By Lauren Castle, PharmD, MS – Founder & CEO, FMPhA.org
In the fields of anti-aging, integrative, and functional medicine, pharmacists have long been sought after as members of the patient care team, particularly for their unique scope of practice to compound customized medications for patients. But in recent years, the role of the pharmacist on functional medicine care teams has expanded well beyond the compounding counter.
Systemic inflammation, often called chronic low-grade inflammation, can persist for long periods without apparent symptoms making it difficult to identify and manage. Common signs of inflammation, such as fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, skin changes, and cognitive issues, may often be mistaken for other conditions leaving many patients without a precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Chronic systemic inflammation contributes to the vast majority of chronic health conditions, including autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, hormone imbalances, and other serious health issues. As awareness of its role in disease pathogenesis grows, an expanding body of research furthers our understanding of the numerous and intricate connections between inflammation and aspects of health.
Increasing life expectancy has led to silently progressive neurodegenerative disorders becoming more prominent worldwide. In the case of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, the urgent need for targeted and effective treatments is more significant than ever.
Major technological advancements have spurred research and development in the biotechnology industry, leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic platforms that can target the root cause of diseases.
With the help of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, gene editing, and precision medicine, biotech companies are now better equipped to develop new treatment strategies. One promising approach gaining significant attention in recent years involves targeting the overactive immune system and reducing systemic inflammation to mitigate the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation.
