Our bodies are confused by this 21st-century world.
by Moises Velasquez-Manoffjunem,
Op-Ed Piece in Sunday Review, NY Times, June 5, 2016
"The world today is very different from the one our immune system evolved to anticipate — not just in what we encounter, but in when we first encounter it. Preventing autoimmune disorders may require emulating aspects of that “dirtier” world: safely bottling the kinds of microbes that protect the kids, so we can give them to everyone and guide the “postmodern” immune system along a healthier path of development."
This essay argues that changes in our microbiome wrought by a "higher standard of living" in more developed countries has led to an increase the incidence of autoimmune diseases such as Type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Other changes have also increased life-span, but some individuals have a higher burden of some diseases. It's a complex relationship, and the arguments are presented well.