​Key Points

Brain development is associated with the formation of excessive synapses that have to be removed in a controlled and timely manner to achieve refined mature circuitry.

Glial cells, including microglia and astrocytes, are the effectors of synaptic pruning, identifying and eliminating superfluous synapses.

Synaptic pruning depends on various molecules, including those controlling glial chemotaxis, target recognition and phagocytosis.

Autism spectrum disorders are associated with excessive synapses, autophagy and dysregulated microglial function.

Schizophrenia is linked to exaggerated synaptic pruning owing to elevated levels of complement proteins and microglial activation.

Epilepsy is thought to arise owing to immature circuitry that was not refined via synaptic pruning.

This initial epileptiform activity is followed by microglial activation and upregulation of complement components.

​"In the present review, we highlight this concept, which we define by the term “immune‐synaptopathy,” and we discuss recent evidence suggesting a bi‐directional link between the genetic architecture of individuals and maternal activation of the immune system in modulating brain developmental trajectories in health and disease."

​Interestingly, Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders also involve more than the Brain and involve the Immune System, the Endocrine System and the Microbiome.

​"Exploring the possibility that estrogen deficiency since early development interrupts GABA shift, causing sensory processing atypicality, it helps to evaluate the co-occurrence of ASC [Autism Spectrum Conditions]  with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and schizophrenia based on phenotypic and physiological bases.

"It also provides clues for understanding the common underpinnings of these neurodevelopmental disorders and gifted populations."

​
​Intelligence and Executive Functions: A Comprehensive Assessment of Intellectually Gifted Children (2023)

​When I think of  Anxiety -- I think of Monk--- but Anxiety often comes with Anger and Aggression.

Some concept of "Justice" is often what we use to manage that -- but that can become more difficult than we realized.

Val's Take/Conjecture
​
Western Civilization has many profound things to say about Justice.

As a society, we're in a relatively long process to make the transition to a Public Health Approach to Criminal Justice.

This "Justice Sensitivity" is up and down the System --- and I would say the Emotional Dysregulation is as well.

I'm not a big believer that punishment is going to bring us to the Promised Land --- although I do believe in Safety.

Better Treatments and maybe Better Treatments that address Immune Pathologies could help everyone.

​Justice Sensitivity and Neurodivergence: Navigating Unique Moral Landscapes (2024)

​​​The Fairness Imperative – ADHD and Justice Sensitivity

​Emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A meta-analysis of evaluation and intervention studies (2024)

​Emotional dysregulation is part of ADHD.

​See how psychologists are helping
By understanding the science of ADHD and emotion dysregulation, psychologists can offer better support (2024)

​​Conventional and new immunotherapies for immune system dysregulation in postpartum mood disorders: comparisons to immune system dysregulations in bipolar disorder, major depression, and postpartum autoimmune thyroid disease (2024)

Val's Take/Conjecture

I've talked about this before--- for most people mental health is about suicidality and psychosis.
and those are two serious aspects of mental health

One of the symptoms of both Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders is FATIGUE.

Fatigue is being referenced more and more and more --- THANK GOD.

With regard to all those homeless people lying around ---- they are just LAZY or need a little help getting back on their feet.

​The reality for many is that they are dealing with DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES that may have wide ranging additional affects to psychiatric disorders and neuro-degenerative disorders in later life.

​One of the issues for Neuro-Diverse Folks is "BURNOUT" and it often is coming BEFORE "BURNOUT" would come for the Neuro-Typical Person.

There are biological reasons for this that often involve DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and DYSREGULATION that began in utero.

As Neuro-Diverse people what can make us just a little more irritating even as we're burning out more ---- " I have some special intelligence or talent that I need to be using."

​"Really . . . hmmm."

​This is bringing into HIGH RELIEF what it is to be NEURO-DIVERSE and deal with idiosyncratic ENERGY ISSUES --- Dr. Christopher Palmer -- Brain Energy.

​The Invisible Disability challenge is a CURSE in the lives of many people.

On the other hand, the challenge of Invisible Disability is to make it VISIBLE through BIOMARKERS.

There's a lot of science regarding the ENERGY ISSUES involved with Neuro-Developmental & Psychiatric Disorders.

If we can deal with those issues authentically --- that is going to build sustainable employment relationships.

​Maternal inflammation during pregnancy and offspring brain development: the role of mitochondria (2023)

​One of things that is important to understand is that INFLAMMATION is really a UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

So Maternal Immune Activation can come from a lot of things:

• infection
• auto-immune disease
• obesity
• trauma
• chemical exposure
• etc.

​Predictive biomarkers and initial analysis of maternal immune alterations in postpartum preeclampsia reveal an immune-driven pathology (2024)

​Val's Take/Conjecture

• Maternal Immune Activation was probably fairly common in Ancient Times.
• In Modern Times, it has been fairly common-- affecting approximately 1/5 to a 1/4 of the population.
• But it is only recently that we are starting to get a more complete BIOLOGICAL NARRATIVE.

I think disruptions in biological systems as a result of Maternal Immune Activation may have inspired Aristotle and others to focus on "Balance" and "Homeostasis/"

​Adult microglial TGFβ1 is required for microglia homeostasis via an autocrine mechanism to maintain cognitive function in mice (2024)

​Modulating microglia activation prevents maternal immune activation induced schizophrenia-relevant behavior phenotypes via arginase 1 in the dentate gyrus (2020)

Val's Take/Conjecture

A lot of neuro-diverse people --- talk a lot about the "SUPER POWERS" of various forms of neuro-diversity.

It is extremely important to identify those "SUPER POWERS."

There is a crying, desperate need to address the DISCONNECT between what people are processing and what it actually takes to do that.

Further, people on the neuro-diverse/psychiatric continuum are generally dealing with "ENERGY ISSUES."

In general, most people think of PSYCHOSIS as "mental health" or poor mental health --- and if someone is suicidal --- that seems like mental health.

​Beyond that I think most people would be hard pressed to recognize more subtle issues that are desperately important.

A lot of neuro-diverse people talk about BURN-OUTS and MELT-DOWNS and at least in part these are ENERGY issues.

"Brain Energy" has been a big book for Dr. Chris Palmer.

I think there is a lot to understand --- and appreciate and further develop and revise.

But at the end of the day ---
​
THIS IS BIG!  Brain Energy is an essential concept to neuro-developmental disorders and psychiatric disorders.

Transdiagnostic Patterns of Sensory Processing in Autism and ADHD. (2024)

To make things more challenging --- this is when we generally talk about our "SUPER POWERS" and how we are so creative, innovative, and intelligent --- even as the latest BURN-OUT or MELT-DOWN is smoldering in the background.

Dealing with these energy issues is one of the keys to preventing a worsening of symptoms.

Many neuro-diverse people are coming with significant anxiety as the result of Maternal Immune Activation and any environmental contributors.

A source of HUGE ANXIETY for Neuro-Diverse people is not being able to manage their time in an atypical way in order to avoid BURN-OUTS and MELT-DOWNS.

Further, those Neuro-Diverse "SUPER POWERS" should be leveraged for mutual benefit.

Val's Take/Conjecture

• "Migraines" need professional treatment.
• Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders are PHYSICAL ISSUES.  That is much more apparent in 2024 than it has been in the past.

Psychiatric comorbidities of migraine (2024)

Handbook of Clinical Neurology

Migraine is commonly comorbid with psychiatric conditions, particularly major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and sleep disorders.

The presence of psychiatric disorders can make diagnosis and treatment more challenging. 

Autism from the Inside
Autism/Chronic Illness --- Is There An Overlap

​ADHD and Migraine: What‘s the Link? - Psych Central Mar 28, 2022 · Migraine with aura, also called “classic migraine,” has a particularly strong link with ADHD.