Can Fasting Reduce Inflammation? | Professor Clare Bryant

Professor Clare Bryant is a Professor of Innate Immunity at the University of Cambridge and one of the world’s leading experts on inflammation, inflammasomes, and immune signalling. Her work focuses on how the immune system detects danger — from infections to misfolded proteins — and how chronic inflammation contributes to ageing and neurodegenerative disease. Her research has helped shape our understanding of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key inflammatory pathway now implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and atherosclerosis.

In this episode, we explore what inflammation actually is, why we need it to survive — and when it quietly turns from protector to problem.

We unpack:

• Why chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”) rises with age
• How inflammatory pathways are linked to brain health and neurodegeneration
• What the NLRP3 inflammasome is — explained simply
• Why fasting produces surprising changes in inflammatory markers
• How a lipid called arachidonic acid can switch off inflammasome activity
• Why common drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen may have anti-inflammatory effects beyond pain relief
• Whether fasting could realistically play a role in managing chronic inflammation
• The difference between mouse studies and human biology, and why it matters
• Why biomarkers like ASC “specks” may be more useful than lifestyle hype

This is a deep but accessible conversation about fasting, inflammation, and brain health, grounded in human data and real biology — not wellness trends. We also discuss the limits of fasting, potential risks, and why personalised approaches to diet and inflammation will likely define the future.

If you’re interested in longevity, neuroscience, immune biology, or how lifestyle intersects with disease risk, this episode will change how you think about inflammation.