The immune system wasn’t thought to have a big impact on the nervous system in the past, but studies have shown that some infections and diseases affect the mind as well. Conditions like OCD can be caused by infections, and personalities can be affected by one’s immune system. Before, it was commonly believed that the barrier that blocks out most things from the brain also prevented it from contacting the immune system. However, sometimes molecules and cells of the immune system can penetrate that tight layer, and cause significant changes.
One example was with a normal twelve year old, Maloney. In 2002, he began to change his behaviors, starting with closing his eyes and walking through the back door only to refusing to turn off the lights. All of that was caused in around four weeks, with an infection to start it off. From that, he contracted OCD and then Tourette’s syndrome. When he started taking antibiotics, his conditions began improving. Now that he is twenty, none of the previous symptoms show.
Further studies have shown that streptococcal infections can cause conditions similar to OCD, and a movement disorder. Vaccines do not seem to cause those, but not being vaccinated could and is more likely to. In addition, another researcher has found that a certain type of antibody can go into the brain and destroy neurons. The disease for the antibody also has symptoms of mood changes. When the antibodies arrive, they inflame the barrier, and with the help of stress hormones, they damage parts of the brain.
I think that this might be an interesting topic since the immune system is probably a lot easier to access and reach than the brain. Antibodies and hormones could just be injected into the blood, where changing things in the brain would require things like surgery or electrical stimuli. Since the barrier that keeps things out of the brain is hard to surpass for most molecules, finding some that could reach the brain internally could help.
Sources
Geddes, Linda. "Happiness is Catching." New Scientist 15 Jan. 2011: 2.
Science Reference Center. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.
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Awesome article! That makes sense: when people are sick or their immune system is down, they tend to feel sad and slow. I know when I'm sick, my brain doesn't process information as quickly and I'm gloomy most of the time. This new information could be useful for internal brain repair; if we find antibodies that can safely enter the brain and deposit objects, then brains could be fixed. I think you could have added more about what you thought of that new potential. Other than that, great article!
ReplyDeleteYour article was really interesting! This makes a lot of sense, since people, like my friends, are usually less energetic and unhappy when they're sick. It would help if you could explain what streptococcal syndrome was, and you could have added more on what your opinions were on the medical advances from this discovery. Great job overall!
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