A live discussion with Kevin J. Tracey and Eric Topol highlights how vagus nerve research is shaping autoimmune disease science.
Neurological Disorders
Research and findings on neurological disorders linked to autoimmunity, including diagnosis, pathogenesis, and therapies.
Brain Fog and Memory Problems in Autoimmune Disease
A new review highlights how “brain fog” and other thinking problems are common yet often overlooked in systemic autoimmune diseases beyond lupus. The authors examined evidence on the reported prevalence of cognitive impairment in several conditions: ANCA-associated vasculitis (≈30%), sarcoidosis (0–35%, higher in neurosarcoidosis), Sjögren disease (10–80%), systemic sclerosis (8–65%), and Behçet’s disease (30–100%). Across […]
Children’s National Hosts 35th Annual Pediatric Neurology Update
Join top experts in neuroscience for the 35th Annual Pediatric Neurology Update, hosted by Children’s National Hospital on April 10, 2025. This full-day, CME-accredited event brings together pediatricians, neurologists, and neurosurgeons to explore cutting-edge advances in epilepsy care, vascular neurosurgery, and mental health in neurological conditions. The hybrid event will be held at the Children’s […]
Flu-Linked Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in Children
Public health officials are investigating a possible increase in flu-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) cases in children. ANE is a rare but severe neurologic complication linked to immune system overactivation, leading to rapid brain swelling and, in some cases, fatal outcomes. Dr. Adrienne Randolph of Boston Children’s Hospital has reported 12 potential cases to the […]
Potential Oral Therapy to Treat ALS Showing Promise
Io Therapeutics plans to launch a Phase 2 trial for IRX4204, its investigational oral therapy, to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). IRX4204 is a “RXR agonist compound” that activates retinoid X receptors which regulate expression of genes associated with inflammation and metabolism. It promotes the growth of immunosuppressive T regulatory cells that keep the immune […]
How the Brain Regulates Inflammation
A study in Nature has uncovered a direct connection between the brain and the body’s inflammatory responses, revealing that the nervous system can actively regulate immune activity. Researchers identified a population of neurons in the brainstem that function as a central control switch capable of turning inflammation up or down throughout the body. Using a mouse model, […]
New Treatments Based on Specific Genetic and Autoimmune Causes of Psychiatric Illness Under Investigation
Doctors and researchers have found that some patients with refractory schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have underlying lupus, and once treated for lupus, their psychiatric symptoms disappear. Dr. Sander Marx found that two patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who were completely detached from reality and had been institutionalized for decades almost completely recovered following treatment for lupus.
Gluten and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Gluten is proinflammatory, oxidative, increases intestinal permeability, and compromises immune functions. A gluten-free diet can improve non-celiac autoimmune diseases.
New Research Reveals Microbiome’s Role in Brain Disorders
According to new research, the origins of some brain disorders may not be in the head but rather in the gut. Scientists studying the vast populations of microbes living in and on our bodies (known as the microbiome) have found they play a major role in brain function and behavior.