EBV Does Not Cause Multiple Sclerosis

It is widely accepted that epstein barr virus, the cause of mono, is linked to MS. But does correlation mean causation? This video makes the argument that the increased prevalence of prior mono and anti-EBV antibodies in people with MS could be an epiphenomenon, secondary to a disturbed immune system.

Camouflaging & Autistic Masking Explained – What’s the difference?

Camouflaging and autistic Masking Explained—why is it crucial to know the difference between the two? In this video, we will discuss the complexities of autistic masking, camouflaging, and compensation and their impact on individuals across gender and cultural spectrums. I will also share my lived experience and offer tips on how to spot masking and camouflaging behaviours that could help you start your unmasking journey.

From autism to Alzheimer’s: A large-scale animal study links brain pH changes to wide-ranging cognitive issues.

From autism to Alzheimer’s: A large-scale animal study links brain pH changes to wide-ranging cognitive issues
From autism to Alzheimer’s: A large-scale animal study links brain pH changes to wide-ranging cognitive issues

A global collaborative research group comprising 131 researchers from 105 laboratories across seven countries announces a groundbreaking research paper submitted to eLife. Titled “Large-scale Animal Model Study Uncovers Altered Brain pH and Lactate Levels as a Transdiagnostic Endophenotype of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Involving Cognitive Impairment,” the study identifies brain energy metabolism dysfunction leading to altered pH and lactate levels as common hallmarks in numerous animal models of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease.

At the forefront of neuroscience research, the research group sheds light on altered energy metabolism as a key factor in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. While considered controversial, an elevated lactate level and the resulting pH decrease are now proposed as a potential primary component of these diseases. Unlike previous assumptions associating these changes with external factors like medications, the research group’s findings suggest that they may be intrinsic to the disorders. This conclusion was drawn from five animal models of schizophrenia/developmental disorders, bipolar disorder, and autism, which are exempt from such confounding factors. However, research on brain pH and lactate levels in animal models of other neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders has been limited. Until now, it was unclear whether such changes in the brain were a common phenomenon. Additionally, the relationship between alterations in brain pH and lactate levels and specific behavioural abnormalities had not been established.

This study, encompassing 109 strains/conditions of mice, rats, and chicks, including animal models related to neuropsychiatric conditions, reveals that changes in brain pH and lactate levels are a common feature in a diverse range of animal models of diseases, including schizophrenia/developmental disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, as well as models of depression, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease. This study’s significant insights include:

I. Common Phenomenon Across Disorders: About 30% of the 109 types of animal models exhibited significant changes in brain pH and lactate levels, emphasizing the widespread occurrence of energy metabolism changes in the brain across various neuropsychiatric conditions.

II. Environmental Factors as a Cause: Models simulating depression through psychological stress, and those induced to develop diabetes or colitis, which have a high comorbidity risk for depression, showed decreased brain pH and increased lactate levels. Various acquired environmental factors could contribute to these changes.

III. Cognitive Impairment Link: A comprehensive analysis integrating behavioral test data revealed a predominant association between increased brain lactate levels and impaired working memory, illuminating an aspect of cognitive dysfunction.

IV. Confirmation in Independent Cohort: These associations, particularly between higher brain lactate levels and poor working memory performance, were validated in an independent cohort of animal models, reinforcing the initial findings.

V. Autism Spectrum Complexity: Variable responses were noted in autism models, with some showing increased pH and decreased lactate levels, suggesting subpopulations within the autism spectrum with diverse metabolic patterns.

“This is the first and largest systematic study evaluating brain pH and lactate levels across a range of animal models for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Our findings may lay the groundwork for new approaches to develop the transdiagnostic characterization of different disorders involving cognitive impairment,” states Dr. Hideo Hagihara, the study’s lead author.

Professor Tsuyoshi Miyakawa, the corresponding author, explains, “This research could be a stepping stone towards identifying shared therapeutic targets in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Future studies will center on uncovering effective treatment strategies across diverse animal models with brain pH changes. This could significantly contribute to developing tailored treatments for patient subgroups characterized by specific alterations in brain energy metabolism.”

In this paper, the mechanistic insights into the reduction in pH and the increase in lactate levels remain elusive. However, it is known that lactate production increases in response to neural hyperactivity to meet the energy demand, and the authors seem to think this might be the underlying reason.

References

a. Halim ND, Lipska BK, Hyde TM, Deep-Soboslay A, Saylor EM, Herman M, et al (2008). Increased lactate levels and reduced pH in postmortem brains of schizophrenics: medication confounds. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 169(1): 208–213.

b. Hagihara H, Catts VS, Katayama Y, Shoji H, Takagi T, Huang FL, et al (2018). Decreased Brain pH as a Shared Endophenotype of Psychiatric Disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 43(3): 459–468.

Is it time to highlight positive skills associated with autism and ADHD. Do you agree?

People with conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism have talents that deserve to be celebrated to help reduce stigma and change expectations
People with conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism have talents that deserve to be celebrated to help reduce stigma and change expectations.

New research says the wide variety of skills displayed by people with conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism should be celebrated to help reduce stigma and change society’s expectations.

Creativity, resilience and problem-solving are just some of the strengths exhibited and a study is now calling for a change in the way we think about people with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Dr Edwin Burns, senior lecturer from the School of Psychology at Swansea University, worked with academics from Edge Hill University on the study and their findings have just been published by online journal Neuropsychologia.

The researchers say people with these conditions are almost always discussed in terms of the problems that they face.

They are often characterised by a range of associated cognitive impairments in, for example, sensory processing, facial recognition, visual imagery, attention, and coordination.

However, Dr Burns said: “We would say that if only the wider public were aware that these groups exhibit many strengths and skills – some which are actually enhanced compared to the general population – then this should reduce stigma and improve their educational and employment outcomes.”

For the study, the team identified a wide variety of skills exhibited in different groups such as Williams syndrome, dyslexia, autism, ADHD, developmental coordination disorder, aphantasia.

These skills include improved social skills, creativity, problem-solving, resilience, and visual search.

The research also puts forward reasons why these skills occur such as genetics, experience adapting to the environment, repurposing the brain, and medication. 

Dr Burns added: “In our research we present a table of potential strengths across conditions, and we hope that this may act as a stimulus for a major systematic review in the future. This should help reduce the stigma around neurodiversity, instead promoting greater social inclusion and significant societal benefits.”

Multiple Sclerosis + Another Autoimmune Disease: Treatment Options

What if you have multiple sclerosis and an additional autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus? Can you take a single medication to treat both conditions. This video shows some data on treating multiple simultaneous autoimmune conditions and the importance of avoiding anti-TNF alpha blocking drugs if you have multiple sclerosis.