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.

While it’s no secret that alcohol takes a toll on the body, particularly the liver, long-term health issues can arise even for light drinkers. This begs the question: how do Europeans seem to handle their booze so much better? Dr Harsh Vyas, a radiologist from Gujarat, recently tackled this on Instagram.

He compared two 37-year-old patients: an Italian who drinks regularly and an Indian teetotaler. Surprisingly, the Italian’s liver was in better shape than the Indian man’s, who was struggling with fatty liver disease despite never touching a drop of alcohol.

Here are some reasons he claims are the reason behind the massive difference between both men:

Genetic Efficiency

According to Dr. Vyas, the primary reason Europeans often appear to have a higher tolerance for alcohol than Indians is how their bodies process toxins at a molecular level.

Your body uses two main enzymes to break down alcohol. Think of them like a two-step cleaning crew which include Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) which converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance and Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) that converts that toxin into harmless acetic acid (vinegar), which the body can easily flush out.

In European livers, both enzymes usually work at peak efficiency. The toxic intermediate (acetaldehyde) is neutralized almost as fast as it is created. But in Asian populations, the activity of these enzymes is often lower. This means the toxic metabolites don't just pass through; they linger in the bloodstream for a much longer duration.

Because these toxins stay in the system of an Indian person longer, they cause more oxidative stress and inflammation. This explains why even a "teetotaler" in India might develop fatty liver from other metabolic factors (like diet or sugar), while a moderate European drinker might show less immediate liver damage - their genetics act as a more efficient "waste management" system.

Diet

Talking about food habits, Dr Vyas highlights a significant contrast between the Mediterranean-style habits common in Europe and the typical nutritional patterns found in India. He explains that Europeans generally benefit from a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, high-quality proteins, and healthy fats derived from sources like seafood and olive oil.

These nutrients provide the liver with the essential building blocks it needs for repair and protection against inflammation. In contrast, many Indian diets rely heavily on refined carbohydrates and often lack sufficient protein and healthy essential oils.

This high intake of refined sugars and flours can lead to insulin resistance, causing the liver to store excess energy as fat. Consequently, even an Indian teetotaler may develop a fatty liver due to these metabolic stressors, whereas a European's liver might remain more resilient despite moderate alcohol consumption because it is better supported by their overall nutritional intake.

Exercise

Using his Italian patient as an example, the doctor noted a commitment to daily exercise lasting 30 to 40 minutes, supplemented by walking 5 to 6 kilometers every single day. This level of consistent movement is far less common among the Indian population, where regular workouts are often neglected.

Dr Vyas concluded that while even small amounts of alcohol remain toxic to the human body, the superior lifestyle of many Europeans, combined with genetic advantages, a nutrient-dense diet and high physical activity, creates a "buffer" that helps their systems compensate for the damage.

In contrast, the sedentary habits and nutritional gaps seen in many Indian lifestyles leave the liver far more vulnerable to disease, even in those who avoid alcohol entirely.

Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about or planning one's own death. In simple terms, it involves thoughts of dying or formulating plans to end one's life. While it is not a formal medical diagnosis, it is a serious symptom that can lead to suicide.

Suicidal ideation is generally divided into two categories which include passive ideation, defined as thinking about death or wishing one were dead without a specific plan to act as well as active ideation, defined as formulating specific, elaborate plans to carry out the act.

The active ideation stage is particularly dangerous as it moves from merely thinking of suicide towards self-harm.

What Leads to Suicidal Thoughts?

There is no single cause for these thoughts; rather, they are often the result of complex, overlapping factors. One therapist on Reddit shared a poignant perspective, describing the urge as an "act of mercy" from a tired mind.

She explained: "Suicidal parts are also deeply perceptive. They see suffering that others overlook. They recognize when other coping strategies are failing and, in their exhaustion, believe that the only mercy left is to stop everything altogether".

Common contributing factors include:

• Biological Factors: Genetics and brain development.
• Demographics: Age, education, employment, and socioeconomic status.
• Environmental Stress: Negative life events, interpersonal relationship issues, and chronic stress.
• Identity: Challenges related to sexual orientation or being transgender/non-binary.
• Health Issues: Substance use disorders or underlying mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or psychosis.

The Warning Signs You Need To Keep An Eye Out For

Early intervention is key. Some of the most common warning signs include:

• Feeling empty, trapped, or hopeless
• Feeling extremely sad, anxious, or angry
• Talking about wanting to die or being a burden to others
• Preparing for suicide, such as making a plan or researching methods of suicide
• taking dangerous risks, such as driving fast
• displaying large shifts in mood
• wanting to give away your possessions or treating people as if you might not see them again
• withdrawing from friends
• eating or sleeping significantly more or less
• using drugs or alcohol more often

Prevention and Support

Studies says we cannot stop our brain to forming such thoughts, noticing the signs early can prevent drastic outcomes. Support is available at both professional and personal levels. Here is what you can do if you are concerned about yourself or someone you know:

• Seek Professional Help: Enroll in counseling or consult medical institutions specializing in mental health.
• Find Community: Isolation often worsens ideation. Joining support groups can help individuals feel less alone.
• Self monitoring: Keeping track of situations you find stressful and how you handle them. Also regularly journaling helps you understand and manage your feelings.
• Stress Management: Incorporate physical activity and maintain open communication with trusted friends.
• Emergency Action: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call emergency services such as 022 2754 6669 or local helplines immediately.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 171,418 suicides in 2023. The data reveals that daily wage earners remain the most affected group, followed by students and young adults. Geographically, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka account for the highest share of these cases.

Cancer remains one of the most feared diagnoses worldwide. Medical bodies classify more than 200 cancers into five broad groups depending on where they originate. These include carcinomas that begin in skin or organs, sarcomas in connective tissues, leukemia in blood-forming tissues, lymphomas and myeloma in immune cells, and cancers of the brain and spinal cord.

While classification helps doctors understand disease behavior, what matters more for the public is which cancers are actually increasing around them.

During a recent podcast appearance, senior surgical oncologist Dr Jayesh Sharma discussed how India’s cancer pattern has changed over the years and which types are most common today. The video is also available on his Instagram channel.

Breast Cancer Now Leads The List

“A few years ago, cervical cancer was the most common cancer among Indian women, and breast cancer was second,” he explained. “Right now, breast cancer holds the top spot.”

Experts attribute the shift to multiple lifestyle changes. Increasing life expectancy, late pregnancies, reduced breastfeeding, obesity and physical inactivity have all played a role.

Breast cancer risk rises with age, menopause, alcohol use and family history. However, survival rates improve dramatically when detected early. Regular self-awareness, clinical examinations and mammography remain the strongest tools.

Oral Cancer Driven By Tobacco Use

The second most common cancer in India is oral cancer. The primary reason is tobacco consumption in smoked and smokeless forms such as gutka and paan.

India carries one of the world’s highest burdens of oral cancer largely because chewing tobacco remains common in many regions. Unlike several other cancers, this one is largely preventable. Eliminating tobacco exposure sharply reduces risk.

Cervical And Lung Cancer Compete For Third Spot

Cervical cancer, once the leading cancer among women, still remains a major public health concern. It is caused mainly by persistent HPV infection but is also one of the most preventable cancers.

Vaccination, safe sexual practices and routine screening tests such as Pap smear or HPV testing significantly lower the risk.

Lung cancer ranks close behind and is strongly linked to smoking and passive smoke exposure. Air pollution contributes, but tobacco remains the dominant cause. Quitting smoking is considered the single most powerful protective step.

Colon Cancer Rising In Urban India

Colon cancer now rounds out the top five cancers in the country. Doctors are seeing increasing cases particularly in urban populations.

Low fiber diets, high processed food intake, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, alcohol and metabolic disorders all contribute. Screening after age 45 to 50 can detect precancerous polyps early and prevent disease progression.

Lifestyle Factors Behind Most Cases

Many people assume cancer is purely genetic, but experts say daily habits play a significant role. Common modifiable risks include tobacco exposure, central obesity, alcohol use, poor diet, inactivity and chronic inflammation.

The oncologist emphasized that awareness should not create panic. “Early detection does not create fear; it creates survival. Prevention is always easier than treatment.”

The message is simple. Cancer patterns are changing, but many of the risks remain within human control. Small preventive steps taken early can significantly reduce disease burden and improve outcomes.