In the 1920s, the scientific community unanimously concluded that the brain was disconnected from the immune system. However, this notion of “immune privilege” is being debunked after researchers found a backdoor in the brain that allows immune cells to monitor the brain from a distance and strike when necessary. This discovery suggests that diseases such as Alzheimer’s may be caused not by brain problems, but by a communication malfunction between the brain and the immune system.
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Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
