Hygiene Hypothesis and Autoimmune Diseases
- The gut-immune connection is critical due to the rising epidemic of autoimmune diseases.
- The hygiene hypothesis, studied since the 1950s, reveals that exposure to childhood germs helps create a balanced immune response, preventing autoimmune diseases.
- Kids in larger households with frequent illnesses had lower rates of autoimmune disease, while more affluent, cleaner kids had higher rates.
- Super sanitation and over-cleanliness can disrupt the immune system.
- Developed countries like the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, and Australia have high rates of autoimmune diseases, while sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Southeast Asia have low rates. As countries industrialize and adopt super sanitation practices, autoimmune disease rates increase.