EBookClubs

Read Books & Download eBooks Full Online

EBookClubs

Read Books & Download eBooks Full Online

Book Brain immune interactions in health and disease

Download or read book Brain immune interactions in health and disease written by Adam Denes and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2015-06-12 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Brain-immune interactions are essential to maintain health and their dysfunction contributes to diverse human diseases. Recent data show that haematopoietic processes and immune organs are under central autonomic control. Deficient regulation of inflammatory events contributes to brain diseases, whereas acute or chronic brain injury is linked with the development of systemic inflammatory conditions or immunosuppression. At present, common disorders with high socio-economic burden such as cancer, cardiovascular-, neuroinflammatory- and neurodegenerative diseases, asthma, allergies, autism, psychiatric conditions and sepsis are believed to be influenced, at least in part, by the dysfunction of brain-immune communication. Since the median age of the world's population is increasing rapidly, it is expected that the burden of common non-communicable diseases will further increase, which represents a huge challenge to the health care systems worldwide. Thus, there is an increasing demand to understand and treat complex diseases, many of which are age-related, and this is not possible unless the fine-tuned communication between large systems -such as the nervous and the immune system- is comprehensively understood. Although it is impossible to cover all areas of relevant research in this field, papers in this eBook give some insight to a few important aspects of brain-immune interactions and their contribution to disease. We hope that this collection could stimulate further relevant research and facilitate discussions to support the understanding of the highly complex interactions between the immune system and the brain in health and disease.

Book Neuroimmune Interface in Health and Diseases

Download or read book Neuroimmune Interface in Health and Diseases written by Ihssane Zouikr and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2017-12-06 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is now well appreciated that the immune system, in addition to its traditional role in defending the organism against pathogens, communicate in a well-organized fashion with the brain to maintain homeostasis and regulate a set of neural functions. Perturbation in this brain-immune interactions due to inflammatory responses may lead to psychiatric and neurological disorders. Microglia are one of the essential cells involved in the brain-immune interactions. Microglial cells are now not simply regarded as resident tissue macrophages in the brain. These cells are derived from myeloid progenitor cells in the yolk sac in early gestation, travel to the brain parenchyma and interact actively with neurons during the critical period of neurogenesis. Microglia provide a trophic support to developing neurons and take part in the neural wiring through the activity-dependent synapse elimination via direct neuron-microglia interactions. Altered microglial functions including changes in the gene expression due to early life inflammatory events or psychological and environmental stressors can be causally related to neurodevelopmental diseases and mental health disorders. This type of alterations in the neural functions can occur in the absence of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the brain parenchyma or leptomeninges. In this sense, the pathogenetic state underlying a significant part of psychiatric and neurological diseases may be similar to “para-inflammation”, an intermediate state between homeostatic and classical inflammatory states as defined by Ruslan Medzhitov (Nature 454:428-35, 2008). Therefore, it is important to study how systemic inflammation affects brain health and how local peripheral inflammation induces changes in the brain microenvironment. Chronic pain is also induced by disturbance in otherwise well-organized multisystem interplay comprising of reciprocal neural, endocrine and immune interactions. Especially, early-life insults including exposure to immune challenges can alter the neuroanatomical components of nociception, which induces altered pain response later in life. Recently the discrete roles of microglia and blood monocyte-derived macrophages are being defined. The distinction may be further highlighted by disorders in which the brain parenchymal tissue is damaged. Therefore, studies investigating the dynamics of immune cells in traumatic brain injury and neurotropic viral infections including human immunodeficiency virus, etc. as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are promising to clarify the interplay between the central nervous and immune systems. The understanding of the histological architecture providing the infrastructure of such neuro-immune interplay is also essential. This Frontiers research topic brings together fourteen articles and aims to create a platform for researchers in the field of psychoneuroimmunology to share the recent theories, hypotheses and future perspectives regarding open questions on the mechanisms of cell-cell interactions with chemical mediators among the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. We hope that this platform would reveal the relevance of the studies on multisystem interactions to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Book Neural Immune Interactions in Brain Function and Alcohol Related Disorders

Download or read book Neural Immune Interactions in Brain Function and Alcohol Related Disorders written by Changhai Cui and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-11-14 with total page 587 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent studies have provided clear evidence on the role of neural-immune interactions in normal brain function and neuropathological conditions. Neuroimmune factors, which play an essential role in neuroinflammatory response, have been implicated in the regulation of neuronal function and plasticity. Thus, neural-immune interactions provide a new frame work for understanding the role of the neuroimmune system in normal brain function, neurodevelopment, and a variety of neurological disorders. These advances have a far reaching impact on many areas of neuroscience, including alcohol research. Studies using human alcoholic brains, gene knockout mice, and gene expression profiling have established a clear link between alcoholism and an altered neuroimmune profile. This book integrates emerging knowledge on neural-immune interactions with key discoveries in alcohol research and provides a comprehensive overview of neural-immune interactions in brain function and behavior associated with alcohol use disorders. While Neural–Immune Interaction in Brain Function and Alcohol Related Disorders focuses on neural-immune interactions in areas directly related to alcohol use disorders, it is not intended to be all inclusive. Several areas, including sleep disorders, pain, and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways, are not covered as independent chapters but briefly mentioned in the text. The close relevance of these topics to neural-immune interactions and alcohol use disorders warrants future discussion and more research efforts.

Book Neuroimmune Interface in Health and Diseases

Download or read book Neuroimmune Interface in Health and Diseases written by and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is now well appreciated that the immune system, in addition to its traditional role in defending the organism against pathogens, communicate in a well-organized fashion with the brain to maintain homeostasis and regulate a set of neural functions. Perturbation in this brain-immune interactions due to inflammatory responses may lead to psychiatric and neurological disorders. Microglia are one of the essential cells involved in the brain-immune interactions. Microglial cells are now not simply regarded as resident tissue macrophages in the brain. These cells are derived from myeloid progenitor cells in the yolk sac in early gestation, travel to the brain parenchyma and interact actively with neurons during the critical period of neurogenesis. Microglia provide a trophic support to developing neurons and take part in the neural wiring through the activity-dependent synapse elimination via direct neuron-microglia interactions. Altered microglial functions including changes in the gene expression due to early life inflammatory events or psychological and environmental stressors can be causally related to neurodevelopmental diseases and mental health disorders. This type of alterations in the neural functions can occur in the absence of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the brain parenchyma or leptomeninges. In this sense, the pathogenetic state underlying a significant part of psychiatric and neurological diseases may be similar to "para-inflammation", an intermediate state between homeostatic and classical inflammatory states as defined by Ruslan Medzhitov (Nature 454:428-35, 2008). Therefore, it is important to study how systemic inflammation affects brain health and how local peripheral inflammation induces changes in the brain microenvironment. Chronic pain is also induced by disturbance in otherwise well-organized multisystem interplay comprising of reciprocal neural, endocrine and immune interactions. Especially, early-life insults including exposure to immune challenges can alter the neuroanatomical components of nociception, which induces altered pain response later in life. Recently the discrete roles of microglia and blood monocyte-derived macrophages are being defined. The distinction may be further highlighted by disorders in which the brain parenchymal tissue is damaged. Therefore, studies investigating the dynamics of immune cells in traumatic brain injury and neurotropic viral infections including human immunodeficiency virus, etc. as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are promising to clarify the interplay between the central nervous and immune systems. The understanding of the histological architecture providing the infrastructure of such neuro-immune interplay is also essential. This Frontiers research topic brings together fourteen articles and aims to create a platform for researchers in the field of psychoneuroimmunology to share the recent theories, hypotheses and future perspectives regarding open questions on the mechanisms of cell-cell interactions with chemical mediators among the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. We hope that this platform would reveal the relevance of the studies on multisystem interactions to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Book Neuro Immune Interactions in Inflammation and Autoimmunity

Download or read book Neuro Immune Interactions in Inflammation and Autoimmunity written by Valentin A. Pavlov and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2018-07-24 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of immunity and inflammation. On the other hand unbalanced immune responses in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions may have a deleterious impact on neuronal integrity and brain function. Recent studies have characterized neural pathways communicating peripheral inflammatory signals to the CNS, and brain- and spinal cord-derived circuitries controlling various innate and adaptive immune responses and inflammation. A prototypical neural reflex circuit that regulates immunity and inflammation is the vagus nerve-based “inflammatory reflex”. Ongoing research has revealed cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these neural circuits and indicated new therapeutic approaches in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Pharmacological and bioelectronic modulation of neural circuitry has been successfully explored in preclinical settings of sepsis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity-driven disorders, diabetes and other diseases. These studies paved the way to successful clinical trials with bioelectronic neuronal modulation in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Dysregulated release of cytokines and other inflammatory molecules may have a severe impact on brain function. Brain inflammation (neuroinflammation), imbalances in brain neuronal integrity and neurotransmitter systems, and cognitive impairment are characteristic features of post-operative conditions, sepsis, liver diseases, diabetes and other disorders characterized by immune and metabolic dysregulation. Derangements in cytokine release also play a pivotal role in depression. Characteristic brain reactive antibodies in autoimmune conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus and neuromyelitis optica, significantly contribute to brain pathology and cognitive impairment. These studies, and the simultaneous characterization of neuro-protective cytokines, identified new therapeutic approaches for treating neurological complications in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. This Frontiers Research Topic is a forum for publishing research findings and methodological and conceptual advances at the intersection of immunology and neuroscience. We hope that presenting new insight into bi-directional neuro-immune communication in inflammation and autoimmunity will foster further collaborations and facilitate the development of new efficient therapeutic strategies.

Book Neuro Immune Interactions in Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders

Download or read book Neuro Immune Interactions in Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders written by P. Patterson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The idea that the brain is an "immune-privileged site" has perhaps served to slow our realization that the intact brain can generate its own inflammatory reactions. These responses can be to peripheral infection, or they can arise from local, internal causes, for instance as a response to stress or to the se vere changes in neuronal activity in seizure or the loss of oxygen in stroke. We are also becoming increasingly aware of the contribution of local inflam matory reactions to certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's In fact, evidence is accumulating that inflammatory processes disease (AD). contribute to the progression of AD, suggesting the possibility of using cur rently available or novel anti-inflammatory agents to interfere with this terri ble disease. Correlations are also being made between inflammatory signs and mental illness, which is a new frontier of research. This book presents the current state of knowledge in a variety of areas relevant to neuro-immune interactions, with particular attention to AD.

Book Neuro Immune Interactions in the Adult Central Nervous System

Download or read book Neuro Immune Interactions in the Adult Central Nervous System written by Oscar González-Pérez and published by Nova Science Publishers. This book was released on 2014-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increasing evidence indicates that inflammatory cells and immunological cytokines can enter into the brain and modulate a number of biological and cognitive functions. Under physiological conditions, only a few immune cells, such as: macrophages, lymphocytes and dendritic cells can cross the blood-brain barrier and gain access to neural tissue. For many years, these findings supported the notion that the brain was an immunologically privileged organ. To date, increasing evidence strongly challenges this conjecture. In fact, neuroinflammation triggers a significant infiltration of immune cells into the cerebral parenchyma. The infiltration of inflammatory cells is accompanied by the release of a number of cytokines that target neurons, astrocytes and microglia. This interaction between the immune system and the central nervous system modulates many cerebral functions, such as: neural remodelling, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter releasing, stress-associated response, cognitive and mental disease progression, and others. The book summarises the latest discoveries, from basic to clinical science, regarding the interactions between the immunological mediators and the neural tissue under physiological and pathological conditions. In this book, it is discussed the influence of immune cells and cytokines in neural-regulated systems. Herein, the readers can find comprehensive descriptions in diverse fields, such as: lipids and obesity, neuronal activity, neurotransmission, stress pathogenesis, rheumatologic diseases, spinal cord injuries, regulation of neural stem cells, neural control of reproduction, and others. To ensure that most of readers obtain clear and complete information, all chapters have been written by prominent experts in their respective fields, who explain these topics with a very accessible language. In summary, this book represents a highly-updated compendium about the interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system that could be very useful for undergraduate students, postgraduate students, academic educators or trainers, basic science researchers and clinical physicians.

Book Psychoimmunology

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alan J. Husband
  • Publisher : CRC Press
  • Release : 1993-03-24
  • ISBN : 9780849348792
  • Pages : 192 pages

Download or read book Psychoimmunology written by Alan J. Husband and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1993-03-24 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Psychoimmunology: CNS-Immune Interactions is based on papers presented at the Second International Scientific Meeting of the Australian Behavioral Immunology Group, held at the University of Newcastle in Australia on March 7 and 8, 1992. Information featured in the volume confirms the longstanding perception that state of mind and behavioral patterns have an impact on general health. Clinicians discuss correlations between lifestyle, stress, and disease, while scientists reveal their findings on ways in which deliberate manipulations of the central nervous systems and behavioral patterns are reflected in changes in immunological outcome. Other papers present findings regarding the mediators of these interactions, which include cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Psychoimmunology: CNS-Immune Interactions will be a useful reference for psychoimmunologists, immunologists, psychologists, microbiologists, and all medical and behavioral scientists interested in the links between brain behavior and disease.

Book The Immune System and the Developing Brain

Download or read book The Immune System and the Developing Brain written by Jaclyn M. Schwarz and published by Morgan & Claypool Publishers. This book was released on 2012 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The developing brain is exquisitely sensitive to both endogenous and exogenous signals which direct or significantly alter the developmental trajectory of cells, neural circuits, and associated behavioral outcomes for the life of the individual. Contrary to initial dogma that the brain is one of the few organs within the body that is immune-privileged, evidence indicates that the immune system has a critical role in brain function during development as well as during sickness and health in adulthood. Microglia are the primary immune cells within the brain, and they are in constant communication with the peripheral immune system and surrounding cell types within the brain. We describe the important role of the immune system, including microglia, during brain development, and discuss some of the many ways in which immune activation during early brain development can affect the later-life outcomes of neural function, immune function, and cognition. Growing evidence indicates that there is a strong link between many neuropsychiatric disorders and immune dysfunction, with a distinct etiology in neurodevelopment. Thus, understanding the role of the immune system and immune activation during the critical period of brain development is a necessary step toward understanding the potential origins of these devastating disorders. Table of Contents: Introduction / The Immune Response / Brain-Immune Communication / Microglia Are Immune Cells of the Brain / The Functional Role of Microglia and Immune Molecules in Neurodevelopment / Early-Life Programming of Brain and Behavior: A Critical Role for the Immune System / Commonly Used Models of Early Life Immune Activation in the Rodent / Early Life Immune Activation and Cognitive Impairment in Adulthood / Mechanisms Underlying the Enduring Changes in Neuroimmune Function Caused by Early Life Infection / Toll-Like Receptors and Immune Activation During Early Brain Development / Environmental Triggers of TLR Activation: Long-Term Programming of Brain and Behavior / Future Directions to Understanding Immune Function and Brain Development / References

Book Microglia in Health and Disease

Download or read book Microglia in Health and Disease written by Marie-Ève Tremblay and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-09-22 with total page 490 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These past few years have witnessed a revolution in our understanding of microglia, especially since their roles in the healthy central nervous system (CNS) have started to unravel. These cells were shown to actively maintain health, in concert with neurons and other types of CNS cells, providing further insight into their involvement with diseases. Edited by two pioneers in the field, Marie-Ève Tremblay and Amanda Sierra, Microglia in health and disease aims to share with the broader scientific community some of the recent discoveries in microglia research, from a broad perspective, with a collection of 19 chapters from 52 specialists working in 11 countries across 5 continents. To set microglia on the stage, the book begins by explaining briefly who they are, what they do in the healthy and diseased CNS, and how they can be studied. The first section describes in more details their physiological roles in the maturation, function, and plasticity of the CNS, across development, adolescence, adulthood, neuropathic pain, addiction, and aging. The second section focuses on their implication in pathological conditions impairing the quality of life: neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis; and in leading causes of death: ischemia and stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as trauma and injury.

Book Cognitive Dysfunctions in Psychiatric Disorders  Brain Immune Interaction Mechanisms and Integrative Therapeutic Approaches

Download or read book Cognitive Dysfunctions in Psychiatric Disorders Brain Immune Interaction Mechanisms and Integrative Therapeutic Approaches written by Weiwen Wang and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2021-03-24 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Mind over Matter   Regulation of Peripheral Inflammation by the CNS

Download or read book Mind over Matter Regulation of Peripheral Inflammation by the CNS written by Michael Schäfer and published by Springer. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Several new developments in the field of neuroimmunology with focus on the brain-to-immune system communication have been the incentive for this PIR volume. It covers topics such as brain-immune interactions, the impact of stress on the immune response, pain and immunosuppression, the modulation of inflammation and pain by the sympathetic nervous system, consequences of nerve injury for the immune system, neuronal mechanisms of immune cell recruitment, and the modulation of the immune response by corticotropin-releasing hormone or adenosine. The authors are a unique group of scientists who are all interested in brain-to-immune interactions; however, each from a different perspective. The volume will serve both neurobiologists and immunologists to understand the influence of the central nervous system on peripheral inflammation. Many aspects of this book will also be stimulating for researchers in the pain field.

Book Brain immune Interactions in Acute and Chronic Brain Disorders

Download or read book Brain immune Interactions in Acute and Chronic Brain Disorders written by Ulrich Dirnagl and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Neuroendocrine Immune System Interactions

Download or read book Neuroendocrine Immune System Interactions written by Jan Pieter Konsman and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-03-03 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The concepts of the neuroendocrine system and the immune system emerged more or less simultaneously in the second half of the 20th century. Although these systems have a high degree of autonomy, it has also become clear that they interact in many ways and at different levels. This book focuses on the neuroendocrine and immune interactions that are fundamental to normal development and maintenance of health. The first introductory chapters are devoted to the historical and philosophical concepts within the field, as well as evolutionary considerations, offering critical interdisciplinary perspectives on the development of this field of research. Without attempting an exhaustive overview, the book then introduces some of the regulatory pathways that mediate interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune systems and examines modulating factors such as age and sex. In addition, several chapters address the importance of neuroendocrine-immune interactions in some disease states. Readers can expect to gain a broad perspective of neuroendocrine-immune interactions in development, health, and disease, along with a critical evaluation of current methods used in the field. Given its scope, the book is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in neuroendocrinology, neuroimmunology, and neuroscience, as well as postdoctoral fellows and established researchers seeking a comprehensive overview and historical perspective of the field of neuroendocrine-immune interactions.

Book The Brain Immune Axis and Substance Abuse

Download or read book The Brain Immune Axis and Substance Abuse written by Burt M. Sharp and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume represents the proceedings of the 2nd annual symposium on the Brain Immune Axis and Substance Abuse held at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL in June 1994. The history of productive studies concerning the relationship between the nervous and the immune systems is relatively recent. Studies on the effects of drugs of abuse on the immune system and on infections among individuals who abuse drugs are also of recent vintage. Only in the last decade have investigators begun to describe the role of drugs of abuse and their endogenous counterparts on the brain-immune axis. Thus, the involvement of the neuroendocrine system in the interactions of drugs of abuse and the immune system has only recently been appreciated. In addition, it has been recognized that direct neural inputs impact immune function. Given the complexity of these interactions, characterization of biologically significant phenomena and elucidation of their mechanisms of action often requires a multidisciplinary approach. This meeting, on which the chapters in this book are based, brought together scientists from an array of biomedical disciplines whose work is focused on the effects of drugs of abuse on the neuro-endocrine immune axis. The meeting was unique in focusing on the brain-immune axis from the viewpoint of drugs of abuse rather than either immunity itself or the brain itself. Presentations addressed the direct effects of drugs of abuse on various components of the immune system, as well as those mediated indirectly by the central nervous system and the neuroendocrine system.

Book Stress  Immune Function  and Health

Download or read book Stress Immune Function and Health written by Bruce S. Rabin and published by Wiley-Liss. This book was released on 1999-03-05 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by a renowned figure in the field of immunology and compiling a wealth of scientific information, Stress, Immune Function, and Health: The Connection looks at the long-term effects of stress on human health from a psychoneuroimmunological approach. The recent changes in dietary modifications, clinical applications, and evolution in the field of immunology have created the need for a book which addresses the growing awareness of health benefits that can be achieved by buffering the effects of stress on the immune system. Emphasizing the importance of the interaction among the mind, the body, and physical health, this reference includes important developmental procedures that can be used to resist stress on the immune system. By examining components of the immune system, along with the effects of psychological stress and the capacity for hormonal response, author Bruce Rabin demonstrates, in a concise, accessible manner, the ability of an individual's immune system to alter susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. In addition, the book examines several key issues in this rapidly expanding field, including: * Information and examples that illustrate how distinct areas of the brain that perceive the presence of a stressor are able to communicate with the cells of the immune system * The correlation between stress-related changes in health practices and stressor-induced risks of disease development * The effect on the immune system due to stress from an increased concentration of neuropeptides and hormones * Behaviors and beliefs that can reduce the harmful effects of stress on the immune system by interfering with the stress-responsive areas of the brain * The issue of stress during pregnancy and the early period of development on behaviors and immune functions in children An authoritative guide for all researchers and students in the fields of immunology, neuroscience, and psychology, Stress, Immune Function, and Health: The Connection is also an essential reference for physicians and nurses concerned with stress and immune-related diseases.

Book The Immune System and Mental Health

Download or read book The Immune System and Mental Health written by Hymie Anisman and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-07-19 with total page 702 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Immune System and Mental Health fully investigates how immune-related cellular, molecular and anatomical changes impact mental functioning. The book combines human and animal studies to reveal immunological changes related to mental-health problems. In addition, users will find comprehensive information on new research related to the microbial composition of the gut, aka, the microbiome, and how it influences brain function and mental health. Common comorbidities with mental illness and their inherent immunological or inflammatory components are also covered. Written by leaders in the field, the book synthesizes basic and clinical research to provide a thorough understanding on the role of immunity in neuropsychiatry. Sociology, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and genetics have provided considerable explanations and solutions to some of the most intractable mental-health problems. But researchers are increasingly relying on investigations of the immune system to identify factors that can undermine and impair mental health. This book covers devastating mental-health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism-like spectrum disorders. In addition, degenerative disorders of the brain, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's-like dementia are explored. - Considers both basic human and animal studies that address immunological changes relating to mental health problems across the lifespan - Incorporates techniques, concepts and ideas from a variety of social, behavioral and life sciences - Explores the relatively new area of the microbiome and how the microbial composition of the gut influences brain function and mental health