Infectious Behavior: Brain-Immune Connections in Autism, Schizophrenia, and Depression

Paul H. Patterson

ISBN 10: 0262016451 / ISBN 13: 9780262016452

Published by Mit Pr, 2011

Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0262016451I3N10

Synopsis:

In Infectious Behavior, neurobiologist Paul Patterson examines theinvolvement of the immune system in autism, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. Althoughgenetic approaches to these diseases have garnered the lion's share of publicity and funding,scientists are uncovering evidence of the important avenues of communication between the brain andthe immune system and their involvement in mental illness. Patterson focuses on this brain-immunecrosstalk, exploring the possibility that it may help us understand the causes of these common, butstill mysterious, diseases. The heart of this engaging book, accessible to nonscientists, concernsthe involvement of the immune systems of the pregnant woman and her fetus, and a consideration ofmaternal infection as a risk factor for schizophrenia and autism. Patterson reports on research thatmay shed light on today's autism epidemic. He also outlines the risks and benefits of both maternaland postnatal vaccinations.

In the course of his discussion, Patterson offers ashort history of immune manipulation in treating mental illness (recounting some frightening butfascinating early experiments) and explains how the immune system influences behavior and how thebrain regulates the immune system, looking in particular at stress and depression. He examines theprenatal origins of adult disease and evidence for immune involvement in autism, schizophrenia, anddepression. Finally, he describes the promise shown by recent animal experiments that have led toearly clinical trials of postnatal and adult treatments for patients with autism and relateddisorders.

About the Author: Paul H. Patterson, a developmental neurobiologist and leader in the field of neuroimmunology, was Anne P. and Benjamin R. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences at the California Institute of Technology and a Research Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine until his death in 2014. He is the coauthor (with Alan Brown) of The Origins of Schizophrenia.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Infectious Behavior: Brain-Immune ...
Publisher: Mit Pr
Publication Date: 2011
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket