Researchers have discovered a mechanism that triggers chronic inflammation in Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis and type-2 diabetes. The results suggest a common biochemical thread to multiple diseases and point the way to a new class of therapies that could treat chronic inflammation in these non-infectious diseases without crippling the immune system. Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis and type-2 diabetes — diseases associated with aging and inflammation — affect more than 100 million Americans.