Immune-brain interactions in neurodevelopment

Professor Dale's overall statement:

• There is genetic contribution to neurodevelopmental disorders like Tourette, OCD, autism
• However, 'single gene' causes are relatively rare
• Instead, a 'polygenic and environmental' model is accepted to explain most patients
• To date, most attention has been to genes
• The case presented here is for 'environmental factors' and why this is important

Overview of talk:

• PANS and PANDAS

-Do they exist and what are they?

• Neurodevelopmental disorders

-Neurodevelopment and gene-environment interaction

-Immune system and microglia

-The case for environmental influences in neurodevelopment

-The case for neuroinflammation in neurodevelopment

-What next?