Tag Archives: inflammation

Stress sends immune cells into the brain

Posted on August 29, 2013 by phpatterson

As discussed in my book, stress promotes inflammation and immune dysfunction, as well as anxiety. A new and very complete paper from John Sheridan and colleagues at Ohio State University provides evidence that stress also induces an influx of immune … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged anxiety, cytokine, depression, inflammation, mental-health, stress | 6 Comments

Dietary salt, inflammation and mental illness?

Posted on May 20, 2013 by phpatterson

In the past few decades there has been a marked increase in autoimmune disease. This has been correlated with the increased population of the Western diet and processed foods. The latter contain far more salt than homemade foods. Now, two … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged autism, autoimmune disease, cytokine, diet and autism, inflammation, mental-health, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia | 4 Comments

Placentas and autism

Posted on April 29, 2013 by phpatterson

Several people have inquired about a new paper tying abnormalities in the placenta with an autism outcome in the offspring. This work involved a collaboration between Cheryl Walker and colleagues at UC Davis and Harvey Kliman at Yale in which … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged autism, cytokine, developmental delay, flu, IL-6, inflammation, influenza, maternal infection | 4 Comments

My new favorite drug?

Posted on April 25, 2013 by phpatterson

I’ve written here before that the cholesterol-lowering medications, the statins, have positive effects on a variety of brain diseases and injuries in a variety of animal models (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke), with relatively few side effects. The thought is that they … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged Alzheimer's disease, autism, cytokine, inflammation, mental-health, schizophrenia, stroke | Leave a comment

More evidence of immune involvement in autism and schizophrenia, and implications for therapy

Posted on April 20, 2013 by phpatterson

Given that many studies have provided evidence that infection in pregnant women is associated with increased risk for autism and schizophrenia in the offspring, Alan Brown and his colleagues in Finland measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an established biomarker of … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged antibiotic, antipsychotic, autism, cytokine, fragile x, inflammation, maternal infection, mental-health, mouse model, Rett syndrome | 7 Comments

Pure cure for autism?

Posted on March 21, 2013 by phpatterson

An impressive new paper is just out from Robert Naviaux, Susan Powell and colleagues at UC San Diego. They use our mouse model of the autism and schizophrenia risk factor, maternal immune activation during pregnancy, to show that a drug … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged autism, diet and autism, GI symptoms and autism, inflammation, leaky gut, maternal infection, mental-health, mitochondria, mouse model, schizophrenia, socialability, stereotyped behavior | 4 Comments

My favorite drug II

Posted on January 28, 2013 by phpatterson

Back from cold and rainy refereeing, but followed by exciting 3-2 win by my son’s soccer team, in which he scored the winning goal! New paper just out from Mark Bear’s group at MIT. They have been at the forefront of … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged Alzheimer's disease, autism, epilepsy, inflammation, mental-health, Parkinson's disease, statins, stroke | 2 Comments

My favorite drug & maternal inflammation risk for autism

Posted on January 27, 2013 by phpatterson

Alan Brown, an epidemiologist at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, has provided critical evidence establishing maternal infection as a risk factor for schizophrenia in the offspring. He has now turned his attention to autism. In a paper published … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged autism, cytokine, IL-6, inflammation, influenza, maternal infection, mental-health | 4 Comments

Another top 10 list for 2012

Posted on December 31, 2012 by phpatterson

Elaine Hsiao’s paper also made the top 10 list of “Notable papers of 2012” from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative. Her paper was coupled with the one from Derecki et al., who also reported on the efficacy of bone … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged autism, cytokine, flu, inflammation, influenza, maternal infection, mental-health, mouse model, schizophrenia | 4 Comments

“Infectious Behavior” blog – 2012 in review