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.

Dengue has become one of the fastest-emerging health crises in the urban parts of India. Every year during the monsoon season, the number of dengue cases rises dramatically in many Indian cities, posing a huge burden on the healthcare sector.

Though climate and mosquitoes are usually cited as reasons for the surge in dengue cases, the problem actually lies in how urban life and the infrastructure of the cities have changed over the decades.

Why Urban Areas Are More Vulnerable

The dengue virus is spread through the Aedes aegypti mosquito that lives well in fresh still water, which is abundant in urban areas.

Mosquitoes breed in construction sites, open water tanks, old plastic buckets, flower pots, coolers, water stored on roofs, and blocked drainage systems. Due to the growing size of cities and high population density, mosquito-borne diseases have become more common.

There are many factors that contribute to the rise in the number of dengue patients, one of which is unplanned city expansion. The fast pace of development in the cities results in stagnant water in the construction areas going unnoticed for weeks.

Moreover, improper drainage and a lack of sanitation facilities help mosquitoes breed. Even posh societies and offices can suffer if proper checks are not conducted.

Urban lifestyle trends also act as indirect factors contributing to the issue. Longer working hours, higher levels of indoor activities, and reliance on mechanical ventilation lead to less focus on environmental hygiene issues.

Families tend to take mosquito prevention steps only after an outbreak starts. The overuse of plastics and poor waste management practices in urban areas have exacerbated waterlogging problems.

The situation has been exacerbated by climate change and global warming. Mosquitoes can breed at a faster pace and survive for a longer period of time in the warm climate and unpredictable rain patterns. Another factor that plays an important role is urban heat islands, which refer to places that are hotter because of man-made concrete buildings.

What Needs to Change?

In order to curb the incidence of dengue, there must be an all-around transformation, both on the part of the governing authorities and the people. Firstly, urban planning should take into consideration good drainage facilities, frequent fogging, garbage disposal services, and proper regulation of building sites. Secondly, there must be frequent checks in residential areas, schools, offices, markets, and open public areas.

Secondly, the awareness campaign needs to be practical and more community-oriented. The citizens should realize that the prevention of dengue starts from their homes. Actions like washing the coolers once a week, covering the water tank, not allowing the water to stagnate, and using mosquito repellents will go a long way in minimizing the spread of dengue.

Early Detection and Healthcare Preparedness

Healthcare preparedness is also equally important. The early detection and proper treatment of dengue could help avoid any serious complications. One should never overlook symptoms like fever, body pain, headache, rashes on the skin, nausea, and weakness during the rainy season.

Combatting dengue fever is no longer just a matter of health care but rather a question of urban planning and lifestyle issues. As the cities continue to expand, everyone should unite and come up with healthier and more environmentally friendly cities. Otherwise, we may see more recurring problems of dengue outbreaks in urban settings every year.

India has recorded 6,927 dengue cases and 10 deaths so far in 2026, according to the latest data from the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC).

According to the provisional data as of February this year, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of cases at 2,873, followed by Maharashtra with 786, Kerala with 670, Karnataka with 560, and Andhra Pradesh with 448 cases. During the same period, Kerala reported nine deaths, while Tamil Nadu reported one death.

According to the Ministry of Health, the Case Fatality Rate (deaths per 100 cases) for dengue has remained below 1 per cent since 2008 and stood at 0.13 per cent in 2024.

The dengue burden in India has steadily increased over the past few years:

National Dengue Day: History And Theme

Launched in 2010, National Dengue Day is observed every year on May 16 as a pre-monsoon alert to help communities prepare before mosquito breeding peaks.

“On National Dengue Day, let us unite to spread awareness about dengue prevention and keep our surroundings clean and safe. The Government of India continues to strengthen dengue control through better surveillance, testing, improved treatment, and awareness campaigns,” said Jagat Prakash Nadda on the social media platform X.

“This year’s theme, ‘Community Participation for Dengue Control: Check, Clean and Cover,’ reminds us that community action is key to defeating dengue,” he added.

Dengue Vaccines In India

Notably, India is currently developing an indigenous dengue vaccine that is undergoing clinical trials.

“The trials will take at least two and a half years, which means by the end of 2028, we will have the results,” said Dr. N K Arora, Member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization in India (NTAGI), speaking to HealthandMe.

He highlighted the severity of dengue when it progresses from a mild illness to a severe one, particularly among young adults.

The vaccine is expected to play a crucial role in protecting the 10–20 age group, which is considered more susceptible to severe dengue cases.

Also read:Ebola Resurfaces In Eastern DR Congo In 17th Outbreak, Claims 65 Lives: All You Need To Know

“We are waiting for the results of the trials, and once the vaccine is recommended by the NTAGI, the system will be ready to adopt it,” Dr. Arora added.

Meanwhile, Qdenga, a dengue vaccine developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company named Takeda Pharma, is expected to be rolled out soon in the country.

The vaccine TAK-003 will be available in India through a manufacturing partnership with Hyderabad-based Biological E (Bio E), in line with the 'Make in India' initiative.

What Is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes and is common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Mild dengue causes high fever and flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, it can progress to severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which may lead to serious bleeding, shock, and death.

Dengue is considered the most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. More than 3.9 billion people across over 132 countries are at risk, with an estimated 96 million symptomatic cases and around 40,000 deaths annually worldwide.

Symptoms Of Dengue Fever

Symptoms usually appear 4–10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and may vary in severity. Common symptoms include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Joint and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes appearing a few days after fever onset

In severe cases, dengue may cause excessive bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and organ complications.

How To Prevent Dengue

Preventing dengue mainly involves reducing mosquito exposure and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Effective preventive measures include:

• Using insect repellents containing DEET
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing, especially during dawn and dusk
• Installing screens on windows and doors
• Using mosquito nets while sleeping in endemic areas
• Eliminating stagnant water in flower pots, gutters, and containers
• Using mosquito traps or insecticide-treated materials in mosquito-prone areas.

While alcohol consumption is known to be harmful to health, a new study has linked it to 62 disorders ranging from heart and digestive diseases to mental and neurological conditions and cancers.

The study, published in the journal Addiction, showed that the fully alcohol-attributable conditions are mainly grouped under non-communicable diseases and injuries. These include endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases, mental and behavioral disorders, diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the circulatory system, such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and digestive diseases, including alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis.

The latest data also adds psychotic disorders, gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis, fatty liver disease, pregnancy- and perinatal-related conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, as well as external causes and injuries, including alcohol poisoning.

“These conditions are 100 per cent alcohol attributable, meaning these diseases would not even exist in the world without alcohol use,” said Jürgen Rehm, senior scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research in Toronto and part of the study team, according to CNN.

“There are another 30 diseases in which alcohol plays a role, such as breast and other cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia,” Rehm said. “These diseases would exist even without alcohol use, but alcohol use is responsible for a certain proportion of them.”

How The Study Identified Alcohol-Related Diseases

The diseases and injury categories fully attributable to alcohol were identified using the World Health Organization (WHO) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th (ICD-10) and 11th (ICD-11) revision databases.

The study defines heavy drinking as more than 40 g of pure alcohol a day for women and 60 g a day for men. This translates to about 1.4 ounces of liquor for women and 2.1 ounces for men.

The good news, researchers said, is that many of these health effects can be slowed, stopped, or even reversed.

“Fortunately, the immediate effects of alcohol on the immune system don’t last long. Depending on levels of consumption, the body bounces back within days to a week,” Rehm said.

Alcohol And Cancer Risk

Also read: Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Not Linked To Autism, ADHD, Finds Lancet Study

In 2025, former US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General Advisory on alcohol and cancer risk, highlighting the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

Similar to warning labels on cigarettes, the Surgeon General called for cancer risk warnings on alcohol products.

The report released by the US Surgeon General’s office identified at least seven types of cancer associated with alcohol consumption. It also recommended updating alcohol labels to include cancer warnings and reassessing guideline limits for alcohol consumption.

The cancers linked to alcohol consumption that Murthy recommended should be included on warning labels:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Throat cancer
• Liver cancer
• Voice box cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Mouth cancer.