Very Interesting Book Overview regarding Cytokines and Illness

[DoubleDose]

I came across this website for a very novel book that breaks new ground regarding how the immune system is at the root of most medical and psychiatric problems.  For anyone interested in connecting the dots on HCV and how it can affect our entire system, through cytokine production and immune system activation......this book lends great insights.  Similarly, chapter 7 really gets into the Interferons, and related drugs, and how they affect our physical and mental health, and why they do.  This work covers a LOT of ground, but really helps orient us to a NEW model for disease and mental health...all based around cytokines...and inter-relationships with viruses, bacteria, fungii, drugs, etc.  I think it is really worth some time.  It kind of fills in the picture for why we feel the way we do....during HCV, during Interferon treatment, and even after...without really directly addressing the above in too much detail.  I would be curious to know what many of you think of this interesting book.

http://www.cytokines-and-depression.com/chapter1.html

DoubleDose

[willing]

made a go at this but am in no shape to read it now, However if you have, here's a question I've been wondering about for a bit.

The evolutionary advantage of most ifn sx is pretty clear. If you're trying to shut down a fast replicating intruder, like a cancer cell or virus,  you put the brakes on all replication machinery. Hence the slowdown  in the bone marrow blood cell factory, hair loss, skin thinning etc. Likewise the stimulation of the B/T cell activity that can trigger autoimmune problems.

However what's gained by the ifn associated mental disorders (depression,anger insomnia etc.)  I can  see some advantage to making sure the host loses all interest in sex, crawls into a  hole and snarls  at anything that comes near. However the combination of a hornet's temperament and a flea's strength seems a sure recipe for extinction.

[DoubleDose]

And, please don't be intimidated by the "book" format...Its quick and easy to read, and you can choose selected chapters as well.

DoubleDose