Infants born more than three months prematurely are at high risk for lung disease – called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) – that often persists through childhood, manifesting as wheezing or abnormalities in lung or heart function. Currently this imprecise diagnosis is based solely on clinical features, and it is impossible to predict how the disease will evolve in the long term, which limits opportunities for early intervention. To improve diagnosis and treatment, a new study at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, funded by $7.6 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will use AI/machine learning to identify disease subtypes that are based on genetic data and associated outcomes.

The brain, traditionally considered an immune-privileged organ due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), has its own sophisticated immune defense system. Microglia, the primary immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are crucial for immune surveillance and maintaining brain health. Alongside microglia, astrocytes play a pivotal role in supporting brain functions, including metabolism, neurotransmitter regulation, and maintaining the BBB. This review critically examines how neuroimmune cells, especially microglia and astrocytes, modulate immune responses and neuroinflammation, especially in neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. By understanding the mechanisms underlying immune regulation in the brain, new therapeutic strategies can be developed to mitigate neuroinflammation and preserve cognitive functions.