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

Patterson, Paul H.

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9780262016452: Infectious Behavior: Brain-Immune Connections in Autism, Schizophrenia, and Depression
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0262016451 ISBN 13: 9780262016452
Publisher: Mit Pr, 2011

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.

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About the Author

Paul H. Patterson, a developmental neurobiologist, is 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. He is the coauthor (with Alan Brown) of The Origins of Schizophrenia.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Mit Pr
Publication date
2011
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0262016451
ISBN 13 
9780262016452
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
162
Rating
  • 4.15 out of 5 stars
    26 ratings by Goodreads