MentalHealthDaily

Parasite Infections and Mental Health: 5 Gut-Brain Immune Routes

by GLOOM

MHD featured image for parasite infections, neuroinflammation, and mental health.

A 2026 Journal of Neuroinflammation review organized parasite-linked neuropsychiatric risk around 5 gut-immune-brain routes; direct CNS parasitic disease carries the clearest signal, while broader mood and cognition associations usually remain observational and confounded.[1] Research Highlights 5 pathways converge on brain function: the 2026 review connected parasite exposure to peripheral cytokines, gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, blood-brain …

Autism, Gut Bacteria, & Probiotics for Treatment: A Complex Puzzle

by GLOOM

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with poor social skills, deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication, and frequent engagement in repetitive behaviors. On average, it affects boys more frequently (~5-fold) than girls and signs of the disorder become noticeable in early childhood [between ages 1 and 3]. Estimates suggest that over 21 million individuals throughout …