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When immune responses are directed toward the brain

Treatment resistant symptoms

Up to 60% of patients globally with neurological, psychiatric, and behavioural disorders do not respond to treatment. Recent evidence suggests that in some of these cases, treatment resistance could be linked to an undiagnosed immune dysfunction, potentially triggered by infections.

The role of immune dysfunction

Immune dysfunction is a well-established factor in the development of psychiatric disorders. Recent research suggests that, in the context of COVID-19, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural symptoms may result from infection-induced immune changes affecting the brain. Studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health have also linked brain inflammation caused by COVID-19 to the mood and cognitive symptoms observed in patients experiencing long-COVID. 

Take charge of your journey

Innovative testing to uncover hidden causes

If medications, therapy, or other treatments have not been effective in addressing your symptoms, there is still hope. The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ is a unique testing tool that helps identify whether neurological or psychiatric symptoms may be linked to an underlying autoimmune disorder.  Identifying an autoimmune condition is crucial because therapies target the underlying infections and regulates the immune system, rather than relying solely on psychotropic medications. With appropriate therapies, symptoms can be significantly improved or fully resolved.

Case Study: A Schizophrenia Diagnosis Reevaluated

A 15-year-old girl presented with multiple neuropsychiatric symptoms that were unresponsive to various treatments, leading to four hospitalisations. Initially diagnosed with schizophrenia, further testing with the Autoimmune Brain Panel™ revealed that her symptoms were caused by an underlying autoimmune process rather than a primary psychiatric disorder.

Resolution of symptoms

Testing with the Autoimmune Brain Panel™ (formerly the Cunningham Panel™) identified elevated autoimmune antibody levels, indicating an autoimmune origin for her symptoms. Following appropriate immunomodulatory therapy, she experienced complete resolution of symptoms.

  60% of patients with neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders don’t respond to treatment. 

Autoimmune Brain Panel™

Discoveries that bring clarity and direction

The Autoimmune Brain Panel™ is a comprehensive series of advanced blood tests designed to help clinicians determine if a patient’s neuropsychiatric symptoms are linked to a treatable autoimmune dysfunction, rather than a primary neurological or psychiatric condition.

This panel evaluates specific autoimmune antibodies targeting areas of the brain, including Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, Lysoganglioside, and Tubulin. These targets are carefully selected for their connection to various neuropsychiatric symptoms such as tics, OCD-like behaviors, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The antibodies’ impact on brain function is also assessed, offering insights into their potential role in triggering symptoms.

Elevated antibody levels may indicate an infection-driven autoimmune process as the underlying cause. These results provide critical guidance for developing an effective treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs.

Who can benefit from the Autoimmune Brain Panel™?

  1. Individuals with neurological and/or psychiatric conditions who haven’t seen improvement, or whose symptoms have worsened despite medication, may find value in testing with the Autoimmune Brain Panel™.
  2. For some individuals, common infections can trigger an autoimmune response, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the basal ganglia—a region of the brain. This can lead to brain inflammation, disrupting normal cell and receptor function, and contributing to the development of neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
  3. Patients with neuropsychiatric disorders caused by autoimmune reactions often do not benefit from traditional psychotropic treatments. Instead, they may require anti-infective and immunomodulatory therapies to effectively address their symptoms.

Why is the Autoimmune Brain Panel™ vital?

The results from the Autoimmune Brain Panel™ can provide clinicians with vital laboratory evidence indicating an underlying autoimmune process in patients experiencing neuropsychiatric symptoms. This information helps guide the selection of a tailored treatment plan.

  1. Identifying an autoimmune component is crucial, as it often leads to a shift in the treatment approach.
  2. Treatment typically involves addressing the infection(s), reducing inflammation, and, when necessary, utilising immunomodulatory therapies to regulate the immune response.
  3. Early diagnosis and intervention have been linked to improved chances of a full recovery.
  4. With the right treatment, symptoms and behaviours frequently show significant improvement or may resolve entirely. 

Refrences:

Howes, O. D., et al. (2022). “Treatment resistance in psychiatry: state of the art and new directions.” Mol Psychiatry 27(1): 58-72. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8960394/

Bower JE, Radin A, Kuhlman KR. Psychoneuroimmunology in the time of COVID-19: why neuro-immune interactions matter for mental and physical health. Behav Res Ther. 2022;154:104104. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2022.104104. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9075982/

Inflammation pattern in the brain may cause many long COVID symptoms. National Institutes of Health. Updated November 8, 2022. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/inflammation-pattern-brain-may-cause-many-long-covid-symptoms

Drew H. Barzman, Hannah Jackson, Umesh Singh, Marcus Griffey, Michael Sorter, and Jonathan A. Bernstein, “An Atypical Presentation of Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome Responding to Plasmapheresis Treatment,” Case Reports in Psychiatry, June 28, 2018, Vol. 2018, doi.org/10.1155/2018/8189067. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2018/8189067/

Shin Y-W, Lee S-T, Park K-I, et al. Treatment strategies for autoimmune encephalitis. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders. January 2018. doi:10.1177/1756285617722347. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29399043/

Brenton JN, Goodkin HP. Antibody-Mediated Autoimmune Encephalitis in Childhood. Pediatr Neurol. 2016 Jul;60:13-23. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2016.04.004. Epub 2016 Apr 12. PMID: 27343023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27343023/