Part 1 of a 4-Part Series
For many years it was widely believed that the brain’s immune system was separate from the rest of the body, but extensive research has suggested that the two systems are tightly related. While the immune system plays the beneficial role in the normal development and recovery of the brain, it is also a factor in several neurodegenerative diseases and mental conditions that can cause serious and long-lasting harm.
The central nervous system is protected by an elastic covering called the meninges and the immune cells within this membrane. The specialized blood vessels are sealed off from the rest of the body by the blood-brain barrier. However, in the outermost layer of the meninges, the dura mater, blood vessels are not sealed off. Pathways carry slow moving blood which can create a place where harmful cells can easily accumulate and enter the brain. To account for this vulnerability, the immune cells are highly present in the dura mater.
Recent studies have shown that some of the immune cells in the dura mater are trained to fight these infections by spending time in the gut first. These are called IgA cells and are usually found in other barriers such as the mucous membranes, the lungs, besides the gut. Rather than waiting for infection to occur, IgA cells are constantly pumping out antibodies against microbes that they first encountered in the gut.
Neuroimmunology is a field that is often overlooked when it comes down to the quality of an individual’s thinking. While there are the beneficial elements noted above, unfortunately negative consequences can arise that warrant attention as a result of this connection:
- Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to attack its own cells. A prominent example of an immune attack on the brain is multiple sclerosis (MS), where the cells that normally protect us mistakenly attack myelin (the protective covering around a brain cell) in the central nervous system and cause neuropsychological problems.
- While MS varies from patient to patient, the attacks to the CNS can cause symptoms such as vision problems, muscle weakness (partial or complete paralysis is not uncommon in later stages), tingling, numbness, balance issues, bladder control problems, fatigue, mood changes, and cognitive changes in memory, processing, and organization.
Here at NRS|LS, our board-certified neuropsychologists are prepared to treat you or your family member that maybe affected by impaired neuro-immunity causing a variety of psychological and neuropsychological changes besides the physical symptoms
Part 2 of the Neuroimmunity Series coming soon.
Please call our office for further information.
Julianna R. Greco
Academy of Allied Health and Science
Robert B. Sica, Ph.D.
Board-Certified in Neuropsychology
Founder/Owner, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Services|LifeSpan