Author Description

"Once thought to be an immune-privileged site, we now know that there is a complex and essential bidirectional interplay between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system. Technological advances in imaging, genomic medicine and immunology have resulted in major revisions to some of the most fundamental and long-held assumptions in neuroscience, and we now understand that the immune system is critically involved not only in brain pathology, but also in the normal processes of brain development and homeostasis. 'Immunopsychiatry', namely the study of the interactions between neuroscience, mental health and the immune system, has rapidly become a major priority for psychiatric research. Accumulating evidence indicates roles for the immune system in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and others. In particular, pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with inflammation, which is common to many of these disorders, can influence the brain to bring about a host of physiological as well as behavioural alterations such as changes in mood and cognition. Raised pro-inflammatory cytokines are consistently reported in MDD and schizophrenia. Moreover, systemic inflammation brought about by acute infection, diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis can accelerate cognitive decline in the elderly and present significant risk for the development or acceleration of AD and delirium. With this new knowledge come new targets to be exploited as biomarkers for diagnosis or informing treatment. A number of immunemodulating therapeutics are currently being trialled for the treatment of MDD, schizophrenia, AD and others"--