Neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases are multifactorial entities. Genetic susceptibility plays an important role as do environmental risk factors. In contrast to the genetic susceptibility, environmental risk factors, if identifiable, may offer attractive strategies for intervention and warrant further investigation.
Environmental risk factors such as infections and ensuing inflammation, altered anti-pathogen responses and vitamin D deficiency seem to play an important role in several psychiatric and neurological conditions. There is mounting evidence that these environmental risk factors impact on diseases severity and treatment outcome. Hence, it is plausible that infections, altered anti-pathogen responses and inflammation may contribute to neuroinflammation and the underlying pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurological diseases. Further understanding can offer new insight in the etiology, treatment and prevention of psychiatric and neurological disease. Likewise, treatment strategies based on anti-inflammatory agents, immunomodulation and antivirals/antibiotics may be promising therapeutic options as adjuvants for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disease.
· Immunity
· Inflammation-Neuroinflammation
· Infections/pathogens
· Immunomodulation
· Vitamin D
· Anti-neuronal antibodies
Neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases are multifactorial entities. Genetic susceptibility plays an important role as do environmental risk factors. In contrast to the genetic susceptibility, environmental risk factors, if identifiable, may offer attractive strategies for intervention and warrant further investigation.
Environmental risk factors such as infections and ensuing inflammation, altered anti-pathogen responses and vitamin D deficiency seem to play an important role in several psychiatric and neurological conditions. There is mounting evidence that these environmental risk factors impact on diseases severity and treatment outcome. Hence, it is plausible that infections, altered anti-pathogen responses and inflammation may contribute to neuroinflammation and the underlying pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurological diseases. Further understanding can offer new insight in the etiology, treatment and prevention of psychiatric and neurological disease. Likewise, treatment strategies based on anti-inflammatory agents, immunomodulation and antivirals/antibiotics may be promising therapeutic options as adjuvants for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disease.
· Immunity
· Inflammation-Neuroinflammation
· Infections/pathogens
· Immunomodulation
· Vitamin D
· Anti-neuronal antibodies