Is the Immune System a Good Target to Aim at In Order to Prevent Chronic Disease?
A first question to address is whether the immune system is a good target to select in the fight to prevent chronic diseases. Consensus is generally positive with some important reservations being brought forward. In fact, it is accepted that the immune system represents our arsenal to combat infection and disease. As mentioned, an underactivated immune system increases risks of opportunistic infection and uncontrolled neoplastic tissue growth, while an overactivated immune system leads to many afflictions, including inflammation, allergy and autoimmunity. Hence, an unchecked and unbalanced immune system hampers good health and quality of life. This explains the consensus ‘Yes’ given as an answer by the experts regarding the pertinence of targeting the immune system to prevent chronic disease.
