In this article, we caught up with BSI member, Professor John Tregoning, to discuss his upcoming book Live Forever?. Serving as the ‘companion piece’ to his first book, Infectious, which looked at communicable diseases, this book explores ageing, what happens to our bodies as we age, age-related illnesses and how these eventually kill us.
Congratulations on your new book! Can you please tell us what it’s about?
It’s about ageing—how our bodies age, what happens to different organs, what we die of, and what we can do about it. It examines how our bodies work normally, how they go wrong, and what the science says about fixing them, both through large-scale medicine and preventative approaches to ageing. It's about pushing the boundaries of how long we live.
What inspired you to write Live Forever?
The trigger point was realising I was ageing. I noticed some grey hairs and I started having to hold my phone at arm's length to read it. It made me wonder what I might die of.
Did you learn anything new or surprising while researching the book?
One new, niche fact I didn’t know is that keeping pigeons as a hobby is very bad for your health. Inhaling anything repeatedly damages your lungs—whether it’s black mould, smoking, vaping, or anything else. Keeping pigeons is an example of this. It’s a niche piece of advice, but interesting.
A surprising discovery was that social isolation is worse for your health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social connection is the best thing you can do for your health. Along with diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking, spending time with others and doing activities that make you happy helps you live better and longer.
Who is the target audience for this book?
The messages apply to everyone. For younger people, it’s about establishing good habits early, like a health pension—building habits like exercising and maximising lung capacity in your twenties pays off later. For people my age, it’s about making changes now to live healthier for longer.
How do you make complex topics accessible to your target audience?
I see it like a roller coaster. You need to bring everyone to the same starting point quickly and then take them up together. When explaining complex ideas, it’s important to ensure no one is left behind without losing those who might already know some details. The book covers eight body systems, so there should be new information for everyone.
What is your favourite part of the book?
In terms of researching the book, I conducted experiments on myself, including one to see if I could change my gut microbiome through diet. The process of collecting and transporting samples was fascinating, albeit slightly gross. Exploring the microbiome was really fun.
And then my favourite part of the book itself is the page full of sausage puns related to Bismarck, that’s my favourite single page. It’s not heavily science-related, but it’s a fun moment of humour. There is some science in there, but it’s a bit tenuous.
Why is popular science writing important?
It’s about sparking curiosity. When I was 16, I read a popular science book about immunology, which planted a fascination that stayed with me. Science writing, when done well, can inspire people to pursue science. It might not change everyone’s lives, but if one person reads my book and decides to explore science, that’s impactful.
How important are vaccines for healthy ageing?
Vaccines are incredibly important for healthy ageing. I realised this only after submitting the final draft of the book, and I wish I had emphasised it more. Vaccines play a crucial role in reducing the burden of chronic infections, such as influenza or RSV, which can significantly impact health and accelerate the ageing process, increasing risks of conditions like heart attacks or frailty. By preventing these infections, vaccines not only reduce immediate risks but also protect against the longer-term impacts of inflammation and ageing-related diseases. The long-term health implications of vaccines go far beyond just avoiding a cold or flu—they can prevent complications like heart disease and stroke. This broader perspective is often overlooked in discussions about vaccine hesitancy. Many people focus on the immediate protection only, like avoiding the flu in a given season, but the extended benefits—such as preventing chronic inflammation and its cascading effects—are equally, if not more, important.
What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
One of the hardest parts was a personal experiment I conducted as part of the research. I tried a fasting-mimicking diet of just 900 calories per day for a week. It was incredibly challenging—I was hungry and tired constantly. And to make it worse, my son kept cooking delicious meals for himself while I was stuck eating things like cup soup and olives! It was a stark reminder of how much food is intertwined with social and emotional well-being. The absence of shared meals and the physical energy to engage in social or physical activities left a noticeable gap in my life.
Why is immunology so important in ageing research?
Immunology is central to understanding ageing because the immune system intersects with virtually every aspect of health. As we age, the immune system's ability to fight infections declines, while inflammation tends to increase—a phenomenon sometimes described as “inflammaging.” This imbalance contributes to the development of many ageing-related diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia. It’s like a seesaw that becomes lopsided over time—reduced infection defence on one side and heightened inflammation on the other. Essentially, every disease of ageing has an immune component, whether it’s due to too much inflammation, an autoimmune response, or a weakened ability to fight infections.
Has writing this book changed your research approach?
It hasn’t changed my research direction, but it has influenced how I think about life and approach my work. One of the key takeaways was the importance of social connections for healthy ageing. Maintaining strong relationships and prioritising social interactions are vital for both physical and mental health and so it has prompted me to think about my work-life balance a bit more. This book has also made me more aware of the value of storytelling and narrative. It’s pushed me to think about how to communicate complex ideas more effectively, not just in books but also in presentations and academic settings.
What advice would you give to those starting their journey in science writing?
My most important advice is simply to start writing. Science writing is a craft—it’s a learned skill, not an innate ability. The more you write the better you get, so it’s essential to just get words on the page. Don’t let yourself get blocked by overthinking every word or worrying too much about perfection. Writing is an iterative process, and you improve by doing it consistently.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, I’d like to acknowledge the support I received from the British Society for Immunology (BSI). Both of my books, Infectious and Live Forever?, benefited greatly from thee Communication and Engagement Grants. Ash Uruchurtu, a BSI member based in Boston, created all the illustrations for the books, and the grants made that possible. They’re an amazing resource for anyone looking to communicate science more effectively, and the support from the BSI has been invaluable to my work.