Dr Jack Auty is a lecturer in the Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. His research focus is how inflammation can contribute to disease.Jack has a broad range of research interests; from how microplastics induce lung and gut inflammation to whether commonly use anti-inflammatories can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Jack is a master communicator and we cover a lot in this fascinating conversation, have a pen and paper on hand!In this episode we discuss:• Jack’s background and current research interests• Alzheimer’s disease 101 – from discovery to disease progression, and Jack’s research that focuses on inflammatory responses in the brain• Modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease, including Jack’s research regarding the role of Zinc• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: The link between contact sports and brain inflammation, including an interesting discussion regarding the role of protective gear• Exposure to microplastics and consequent inflammatory responses in various bodily systems• Plastic pollution and impact on wildlife – it’s more complex than we thought • Paper: Plastic debris increases circadian temperature extremes in beach sediments• Responsible waste management, the need for systemic and policy change and the necessity for clearer labelling of plastics to increase awareness within the community• The role of recycling and the massive amounts of greenwashing we are subjected to as consumers• Jack’s work with Adrift Lab and future research projects• And so much more!To view all the links to the websites and documents, make sure you visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.