The COVID-19 pandemic may be over, but our immune systems are still feeling the impact. After years of battling constant viral threats, from COVID-19 to seasonal flu and other infections, our body’s defense system is exhausted. Many people continue to experience lingering inflammation, frequent illnesses, and slower recovery times. This extended state of immune stress has compromised us further to chronic illness, including autoimmune diseases and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. So why is our immune system still in trouble? And how do we give it its power back? Understanding immune exhaustion is the beginning of rebuilding our body's natural immunity.

A weakened immune system makes people more susceptible to disease, mental illnesses, and even sleep disorders. Now, new research indicates that immune system depletion may play an important role in the onset of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurologic disorder that compromises movement and cognition.

Role of Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease

Dysfunctional immune response is a leading cause of long-standing inflammation within the body, that has been found to contribute towards a multitude of conditions, including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

As people age, their immune system naturally becomes less effective. This deterioration, referred to as immune exhaustion, may be a key contributor to the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Rebecca Wallings, a Parkinson’s Foundation Launch Award grant recipient and senior postdoctoral fellow at the University of Florida, believes that an accumulation of exhausted immune cells could be driving neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s patients.

How a Tired Immune System Might Affect Parkinson's?

Parkinson's disease is most commonly linked with the degeneration and loss of dopaminergic neurons—motor nerve cells that produce dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter for movement. While researchers have long suspected inflammation is involved in this neurodegeneration, the mechanisms are not yet well understood.

Wallings' study is on immune cell exhaustion, a process by which aging immune cells fail to control immune responses effectively. Her research indicates that instead of dampening inflammation in Parkinson's patients, attempts should be made to rejuvenate the immune system to regain its functionality.

Energy Deficiency in Immune Cells

One of the major findings of Wallings' work is the function of mitochondrial impairment in immune cell exhaustion. Mitochondria are commonly called the powerhouses of cells, as they are vital for generating energy. As mitochondria age and become inefficient, immune cells fail to function well, potentially accelerating neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.

Wallings has found that mutations in the LRRK2 gene, a recognized genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease, are linked with defective mitochondrial function and immune cell exhaustion. Her current work includes testing various therapeutic approaches to restore mitochondrial function in immune cells with the potential to enhance the immune system and potentially prevent or treat Parkinson's disease.

Will Rejuvenating the Immune System Help in Treatment?

For decades, the standard practice in treating Parkinson's has been to suppress brain inflammation. Yet Wallings' work indicates that instead of slowing down immune responses, restoring the immune system could be a more successful strategy. By addressing mitochondrial impairment and immune resilience, researchers can potentially reverse or slow down Parkinson's disease.

Wallings is now looking into how to rejuvenate immune cells by fixing mitochondria. She studies immune cells from patients with Parkinson's as well as from healthy subjects and performs experiments on animal models to determine if rejuvenation of the immune system could result in improved disease outcomes.

Lifestyle Factors That May Affect Parkinson's Risk

While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, some lifestyle adjustments may decrease the chances of developing the illness. Since neurodegenerative diseases are associated with chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, developing habits that enhance immune function might prove helpful.

Diet: There is evidence to suggest that eating in accordance with the Mediterranean or MIND diets, both high in antioxidants, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory foods, can encourage brain wellness and reduce Parkinson's risk.

Avoiding Dangerous Substances: Restricting alcohol and nicotine use can maintain a robust immune system and suppress inflammation.

Reducing Stress: Chronic stress weakens immune function, so methods such as meditation, exercise, and sufficient sleep can lead to improved overall well-being.

Taking semaglutide can lower your risk of heart attacks and other major adverse cardiovascular events, regardless of how much weight you lose or if you have diabetes, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have found that taking semaglutide drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus can reduce the risk of MACE (Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, defined as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) by four percent for every 5kg less body weight or 5cm smaller waist.

The Novo Nordisk-funded study analyzed 17,604 people from 41 countries aged 45 years and over, who were overweight and had cardiovascular disease (CVD) but did not have diabetes.

The involved scientists said this finding “suggests there are multiple ways the drug benefits the heart, rather than its protective effect on cardiovascular health being due solely to weight loss”, which may include “supporting the health of the lining of blood vessels, reduced inflammation, improved blood pressure control and lower lipid levels“.

Lead author John Deanfield, professor of cardiology at the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, said: “Abdominal fat is more dangerous for our cardiovascular health than overall weight, and therefore it is not surprising to see a link between reduction in waist size and cardiovascular benefit. However, this still leaves two-thirds of the heart benefits of semaglutide unexplained.

“These findings reframe what we think this medication is doing. It is labelled as a weight-loss jab but its benefits for the heart are not directly related to the amount of weight lost. In fact, it is a drug that directly affects heart disease and other diseases of ageing.”

Can Obesity Raise The Risk Of Death?

Researchers from the UK and Finland, who analyzed over 500,000 people, found that those with a BMI of 30 or higher were at a significantly higher risk compared with people with a healthy BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. The risk escalated as body weight increased.

Dr Solja Nyberg, of the University of Helsinki and the study's first author, noted the problem could worsen and said: “As obesity rates are expected to rise globally, so will the number of deaths and hospitalizations from infectious diseases linked to obesity.

“To reduce the risk of severe infections, as well as other health issues linked with obesity, there is an urgent need for policies that help people stay healthy and support weight-loss, such as access to affordable healthy food and opportunities for physical activity.”

In the meantime, she added, it was “especially important” for those living with obesity to keep up to date with their vaccinations.

According to the World Health Organisation, obesity has been linked to 3.7 million deaths globally in 2024. If strong action is not taken, the number of people living with obesity is expected to double by 2030. Recently, the WHO released its first-ever guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, or GLP-1, therapies for managing obesity as a chronic and relapsing condition.

“Obesity is a major global health challenge that WHO is committed to addressing by supporting countries and people worldwide to control it effectively and equitably. Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Childhood Obesity: The Silent Crisis

Childhood obesity is a long-term health condition that develops when a child’s weight is above the healthy range for their age, height, and sex.

According to Mayo Clinic, doctors define it as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for children 2 years and older. In recent times, India has begun seeing a worrying rise in childhood obesity cases, especially in cities where lifestyle changes, unhealthy diets, and less physical activity are driving the trend.

In the United States, CDC data from 2017–2020 showed that about 19.7% of children and adolescents between ages 2 and 19 had obesity, roughly 14.7 million young people. Among them, 12.7% were between ages 2–5, 20.7% were 6–11, and 22.2% were 12–19.

Dr Vivek Jain, Senior Director & Unit Head, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital explains that in recent years, obesity among children has risen sharply due to many factors. Kids are spending more time in front of screens, getting less outdoor play, and attending online classes, all of which cut down their activity levels. At the same time, fast food, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks have become a regular part of diets.

Modern lifestyles also encourage frequent dining out, reliance on processed meals, and irregular eating. Add limited access to safe play areas, heavy academic schedules, and family history of obesity, and the risks become even higher.

Without intervention, obesity in childhood often continues into adulthood, increasing chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and even some cancers.

"I'm not scared of a germ, I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats," said the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr. Now 72, he said during a Theo Von podcast that he continued with in-person rehab meeting during pandemic due to his addiction because of his robust approach to infection.

In a statement, he said, "I said, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting every day’,” he told Von. “I said, ‘I’m not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats — and I know this disease [addiction] will kill me if I don’t treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day … for me, it was survival.”

Read: RFK Jr. Removes Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

What Is Wrong With RFK Jr's Statement?

While toilet seat may not be the dirtiest item in an average household, as scientists, including professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, Dr Chuck Gerba told BBC that there are other dirtier items too. The statement to snort off a toilet seat could have a wrong tone.

While there exist other items with more bacteria than toilet, it is no safe to snort things off toilet seat and absolutely not to do drugs and to brag about it. This feels especially off when it comes from a Health Secretary.

On an average, a toilet seat typically has around 50 to 3,000 bacteria per square inch. A toilet seat could have many bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, norovirus and Shigella. They can cause gastrointestinal distress.

What is wrong with RFK Jr.'s statement is that having frequent encounters with fecal bacteria will not scientifically make him immune against the respiratory viruses which were common during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read: Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Controversial Nominee for U.S. Health Secretary?

This is because bacteria are single-celled, living organisms that can live independently, while viruses are much smaller, non-living agents and require a host cell to reproduce. The basic difference in its composition and how they function after entering the body is the reason why exposure to bacteria does not necessarily means one is protected or has immunity against a virus.

RFK Jr And His Anti-Vaxxer Stance

He is the nephew of former US President John F Kennedy popularly known as JFK, who was a democratic candidate. However, RFK Jr., who earlier filed candidature as a Democrat, then switched to an independent candidate and endorsed Trump heavily.

RFK Jr. works closely with many anti-vaccine activists who work for his nonprofit group Children's Health Defense. While in his recent speech, he said that he has "never been anti-vax and have never told the public to avoid vaccination", his track record shows otherwise.

In a podcast interview, he said, "There is no vaccine that is safe and effective" and told FOX News that he still believes in the now long-debunked idea that vaccines can cause autism. In another 2021 podcast, he urged people to "resist" CDC guidelines on getting their kids vaccinated. "I see somebody on a hiking trail carrying a little baby and I say to him, better not get them vaccinated," he said.

His non-profit also led an anti-vax campaign sticker and he appeared next on the screen to a sticker that read: "If you are not an anti-vaxxer you are not paying attention," reports AP.

Five weeks after the launch of Novo Nordisk's weight loss pill, Wegovy, 38,220 US prescriptions have been reported by IQVIA for the same. The company shares too climbed up by 4% on Friday, and touched the levels last seen in October.

The oral version of the Wegovy pill became available to US patients earlier this month after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in December.

How Effective Is The Wegovy Pill?

After injection by Novo Nordisk, of the same name, Wegovy, which has been on the market since 2021, its popularity grew so much that it was in short supply until February 2025. The pill version has now come out, which many experts believe will expand its accessibility. As the monthly supply of pill is expected to be cheaper than the monthly supply of the weight loss injection.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that a 25 milligram Wegovy pill led to 13.6% reduction in weight on average over 64 weeks. When compared to placebo, the result was only 2.2% of weight loss. Novo Nordisk says that those who stayed on the treatment and reduced their calorie intake, it would lead to a loss of 16.6% of their weight.

How To Use The Weight Loss Pill?

The first step lies in buying the correct and safe weight loss pill. Make sure the weight loss pills are clinically proven option for people to use to reduce their weight.

Take the pill with a glass of water. Make sure to always have the pill prescribed and follow the instructions that you GP has told. Store the pill in a cold place, however avoid freezing the medicine. Keep the medicine out of a child's reach. In some weight loss pills, if you miss your dosage, you can take it within 1 hour, however, clarify these doubts from your GP. A pill can usually be consumed within an hour of a fat-containing meal up to three times a day., however, the Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach. Patients are advised not to eat, drink, or take other medicines for at least 30 minutes afterward. Thus, one must follow what is being prescribed for the best result, as the administering of the pill could vary based on the medication.

Most importantly, a healthy balanced diet, and a regular workout routine is also important will the person is on the pill.

Read: Wegovy Starter Dose Now Available As Daily Pill, Replacing Weekly Injections

What Are The Side Effects Of Wegovy Pill?

Digestive problems such as nausea and vomiting remain the most common side effects of GLP-1 drugs. These issues were also reported in studies of the pill versions. Around 7 percent of participants taking the Wegovy pill stopped treatment because of side effects, compared with 6 percent in the placebo group. In orforglipron’s trial, up to 10 percent of patients discontinued treatment, compared with 3 percent on placebo.

One key difference lies in how the medications are used. The Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water. Patients are advised not to eat, drink, or take other medicines for at least 30 minutes afterward. Doctors say this requirement has limited the use of Rybelsus, the pill form of semaglutide approved for diabetes, compared with Ozempic.

Eli Lilly highlights that orforglipron was taken once daily in trials without restrictions on food or water, which may make it easier for patients to use consistently.