Articles

Mental Health is Collaborative

In addition to the management of symptoms and treatment, mental health support is vital to caring for autoimmune disease. Researchers recognize that mental health care is a collaborative effort. A recent study that investigated the prevalence and identification of neuropsychiatric symptoms in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) patients found that 55% of patients suffered from depression, and 57% were struggling with anxiety.

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Pesticide Use & the Gut Microbiome

Emerging research suggests a potential link between pesticide use and alterations in the gut microbiome, which may contribute to the development or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. Pesticides can disrupt the delicate balance of beneficial gut bacteria, leading to increased inflammation and potential immune system dysregulation, thereby posing a potential risk for individuals susceptible to autoimmune conditions.

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Allergies and Autoimmunity

Allergies and autoimmune diseases are both conditions that result from an inappropriate immune response. “As we learn more about the immune responses in autoimmunity and allergy, we are discovering that in some cases, variants of the same gene are involved in both. This suggests a connection between these immune-mediated diseases,” said Steven F. Ziegler, the director of the Immunology Program at the Benaroya Research Institute at the University of Washington.

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