What can alter the normally functioning Blood-Brain Barrier?
Research has shown that the direct action of certain viruses and/or the immune response (particularly the cytokines) which the body launches in response to chronic infection can damage and inappropriately alter the normal function of the blood-brain barrier. In addition to this, elevations of serotonin and certain deficiencies such as essential fatty acids and glutathione can also cause malfunction of the barrier. Acute and chronic stress in animal studies has been shown to compromise the barrier function. Stress in humans also appears to be a potential cause of barrier disruption – Israeli Gulf war soldiers were found to have significant central nervous system side effects (normally not observed) when they were given the drug pyridostigmine. This study, published in the journal Nature Medicine in 1996, has led to the speculation that the barrier breakdown may be involved in Gulf War Syndrome. Why might the Blood-Brain Barrier be Compromised in ME/CFS? Abnormal Blood-Brain Barrier perm
