Does Our Immune System Cause Brain Diseases?

Scientists believe that an out-of-control immune system can trigger devastating brain diseases.

16:42 16 May 2016

For years, scientists have been focusing on protein deposits called amyloid plaques lodged in the brain in understanding the development of various brain diseases. However, recent studies suggest that an out-of-control immune system may be to blame for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s. Scientists claim that there is strong evidence the mental decline common to these diseases is caused by “auto-inflammation.”

 

Study leader, Professor Robert Richards, said: 'Our interest in the body's own immune system as the culprit began when we discovered immune system agents become activated in a lab y model of Huntington's disease,'

 

'Remarkably, researchers from other laboratories were at the same time reporting similar features in other neurodegenerative diseases. 

 

'When we pulled the evidence together, it made a very strong case that uncontrolled innate immunity is indeed the common cause.'

 

He added: 'We hope this new way of understanding neurodegeneration will lead to new treatments,'

 

'Currently we have no effective treatments to assist the millions of affected people, and these diseases are an enormous burden on families and the public health care system.'

 

'We now need to further investigate the immune signaling molecules, to identify new drug targets that will delay the onset and/or halt the progression of these devastating diseases.'