Interesting new findings: one of the reasons aging may create an increase in spinal issues is that the receptors on the nervous system immune cells (yes immune!) seem to become less responsive as aging progress.  This in term causes a decrease in the immune anti-inflammatory response to injury.  As many of you know, oe of the things Dr. Wright is always talking about is controlling the inflammation when you’re fighting a spinal flair-up, so you already know the significance of a decreased ability by the nervous system cells to control inflammation.

An interesting caveat to this information is previous studies that have shown an INCREASE in certain immune cells after a #chiropractic adjustment.  Perhaps this is one of many reasons many people world-wide find significant results with chiropractic!

Reference

*Fenn, A.M., et al. IL-4 signaling drives a unique arginase+/IL-1B+ microglia phenotype and recruits macrophages to the inflammatory CNS: consequences of age-related deficits in IL-4Ra after traumatic spinal cord injury. Journal of Neuroscience 2014 Jun 25; 34 (26): 8904-17.

*Neil J. Manipulative therapy and immune response: A literature review of the chiropractic and osteopathic evidence. Clinical Chiropractic 2012; 15(3): 186.

*Roy, Richard Al, Jean Boucher, Alain Comtois. Inflammatory response following a short-term course of chiropractic treatment in subjects with and without chronic low back pain. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2010, September; 9(3): 107-114.

*Ogura, Takeshi and Manabu Tashiro, Mehedi,Shoichi Watanuki, Katsuhiko Shibuya, Keiichiro Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Itoh, Hiroshi Fukuda, Kazuhiko Yanai. Cerebral Metabolic Changes in Men After Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Neck Pain. Alternative Therapies. 2011, November/December; 17 (6): 12-17.