Thank you, Cheryl.

This paper revealed the shocking prevalence of neuropsychiatric conditions in patients with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Here are the numbers...

A subset of individuals with depression (1), sleep disorders (2), bipolar disorder (3), or mood disorders (1) have all been found to have elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in their blood. The study below is yet another example of why immunopsychiatry is an area of active research. Literature Cited: 1. Felger JC. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2018. PMID: 29173175 2. Zielinski MR, Gibbons AJ. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022. PMID: 35392608 3. Dolsen MR, Soehner AM, Harvey AG. Psychosom Med. Jan 2018. PMID: 28914726

Key brainstem regions help control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and the body’s inflammatory “brake” through the vagus nerve. In this article, we examine neuroimaging and post-mortem findings in COVID-19, a recent neuroimmune hypothesis for POTS, the medulla’s role as an inflammatory thermostat, and how connective tissue laxity or mast cell activation may amplify vulnerability in a subset of patients. Read more here: buff.ly/Lx71wkY

Validated survey instruments provide a reliable way to measure symptoms and overall quality of life. But one of the biggest misconceptions about health tracking is that a single score can tell you specifically what's wrong. It doesn't. Instead, measuring scores over time can help catch setbacks and improvements to help you to adjust care. In this way, your trend reports help answer questions like: • Am I improving over time? • Have my symptoms been getting worse? • What does "normal" look like for me? • When did things begin to change? A single score is a snapshot. A series of scores over time tells a story. That's why unhide® doesn't just show your latest survey result; it helps you see your health over time. Your reports aren't designed to diagnose a condition. They're designed to help you recognize patterns that may otherwise be difficult to see. Explore: unhidenow.org/validated-heal…

ME/CFS, Long COVID, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis have one thing in common. Prof Dmitry Pshezhetskiy explains, "patients frequently report remarkably similar symptoms," such as: - brain fog - disturbed sleep - poor concentration - overwhelming fatigue - autonomic dysfunction - dramatic reduction in everyday functioning Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics investigated the causes of many shared symptoms. Here is what they found. Using 3D genome analysis rather than linear DNA sequences, the team discovered little overlap in individual genes. "But when we analyzed how those genes interact in complex biological networks, a completely different picture emerged. Suddenly, the diseases appeared deeply connected," noted lead researcher Prof Dmitry Pshezhetskiy. The shared systems involve: - stress responses - immune signaling - mitochondrial energy production Different triggers, from viral infection to trauma, may converge on these circuits to drive the overlapping symptoms. "What we discovered is something approaching a biological unifying theory of fatigue," Pshezhetskiy said. Read more: buff.ly/aUYyxOW

Progress in treating depression has largely stalled over the last 30 years. Could this be because the field has largely ignored a key biological driver present in a substantial subset of patients: chronic low-grade inflammation? Multiple meta-analyses of randomized trials show that anti-inflammatory agents (as add-ons or in patients with elevated inflammatory markers) can reduce depressive symptoms, with moderate effect sizes (1,2,3). This is especially relevant for treatment-resistant depression, where standard antidepressants often fall short in 1/3 of treated patients. At the Brain Inflammation Collaborative, we recognize the strong link between chronic inflammatory conditions and psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, and we actively incorporate this relationship into our research. Learn more at buff.ly/X9I08WE Literature Cited: 1. Köhler O, et al. (2014). JAMA Psychiatry. PMID: 25322082 2. Bai S, et al. (2020). Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. PMID: 31658959 3. Kappelmann N, et al. (2018). Molecular Psychiatry. PMID: 27752078

Vitamin D was classified as a vitamin by historical accident. It’s actually a steroid hormone that crosses cell membranes and directly controls gene expression. In chronic inflammatory and post-infectious conditions, the real issue can be resistance: the active hormone simply isn’t signaling efficiently. Learn: • What drives resistance • How to actually test for it • Why vitamin D acts more like a hormone • Practical ways to improve your body’s response Read more: buff.ly/VIjX1UN

POTS, hypermobile EDS, and MCAS often occur together, and the connection is stronger than many realize. A 2021 study found a markedly higher rate of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in patients who already have both Postural Tachycardia Syndrome and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. If you live with one of these conditions, it’s worth discussing the others with a knowledgeable clinician. Better awareness can lead to more complete care.

Females are almost twice as likely as males to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (1). Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found clues that the female (extra) X chromosome is involved...🧵