『Untangling PANDAS & PANS: Conversations about Infection-Associated, Immune-Mediated Neuropsychiatric Disorders』のカバーアート

Untangling PANDAS & PANS: Conversations about Infection-Associated, Immune-Mediated Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Untangling PANDAS & PANS: Conversations about Infection-Associated, Immune-Mediated Neuropsychiatric Disorders

著者： Susan Newman Manfull PhD
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Hello and welcome to Untangling PANDAS & PANS, a podcast about two relatively unknown medical disorders characterized by the sudden and dramatic onset of obsessions and compulsions, vocal or motor tics, or restricted eating behavior -- and a whole host of other symptoms -- following strep or other bacterial or viral infection. Sometimes overnight. I have the privilege of interviewing some of the top researchers and clinicians in the rapidly growing field of Infection-Associated, Immune-Mediated Neuropsychiatric Disorders. That’s a mouthful of words that encompasses the strangely named disorders, PANDAS and PANS.

My name is Dr. Susan Manfull. I am a social psychologist, the Executive Director of The Alex Manfull Fund, and the mother of Alex Manfull, who died at 26 years old due to PANDAS, a neuropsychiatric disorder my husband and I knew next to nothing about, certainly not that our daughter could die from it.

PANDAS is an acronym for “Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus.” This disorder, first defined in 1998 at the National Institute of Mental Health, describes the acute and dramatic onset of obsessions and compulsions and/or motor or vocal tics as well as a whole host of neuropsychiatric symptoms in temporal association to a Group A streptococcal infection. PANS, which stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, refers to a similar symptom presentation -- with obsessions and compulsions or restricted eating being the cardinal symptoms -- due to a broader category of triggers (typically bacterial or viral infections). Both are thought to stem from a dysregulated immune system, probably leading to an over-production of autoantibodies and concomitant excess brain inflammation, particularly in the basal ganglia.

Symptoms vary from person to person and range in severity from mild to severe, and generally have a relapsing and remitting course. With early recognition and correct treatment, these disorders can be successfully treated. Today, it is no longer viewed as a diagnosis limited to the pediatric population.

Please stay tuned after each episode to listen to a one-minute public service announcement about PANDAS & PANS and The Alex Manfull Fund. To learn more, please visit our website: TheAlexManfullFund.org.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

© 2026 Untangling PANDAS & PANS: Conversations about Infection-Associated, Immune-Mediated Neuropsychiatric Disorders 衛生・健康的な生活 身体的病い・疾患
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  • S3 E24: Dr. Sue Swedo Talks About the Past 40 Years of PANS/PANDAS

    S3 E24: Dr. Sue Swedo Talks About the Past 40 Years of PANS/PANDAS
    2026/08/03

    In this episode, we trace Dr. Swedo’s path from pediatrics to the National Institute of Mental Health and the early clinical observations that linked Sydenham chorea, rheumatic fever, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Along the way, she explains why OCD is often hidden for years unless clinicians ask the right questions, and why structured checklists can change everything for families searching for answers. We also confront the reality of scientific pushback: how skepticism shaped stronger research, why medicine can take decades to accept an infectious or autoimmune mechanism, and what the autoimmune encephalitis era has taught the wider field of immunopsychiatry.

    Then we look forward. Dr. Swedo lays out the research roadmap she wants to see now: multi-center collaboration across major PANDAS and PANS clinics, prospective studies that capture kids within days of symptom onset, better testing for rheumatogenic and potentially “pandasogenic” strep strains, and smarter use of models to evaluate immunomodulating treatments like IVIG and plasmapheresis. We also talk about safety and the urgent need to take self-harm intrusions seriously, especially when inflammation, impulse control changes, and demoralization collide.

    If you care about PANDAS, PANS, pediatric OCD, tics, neuroinflammation, autoimmune brain disease, or the future of mental health diagnosis, this conversation will give you history, clarity, and practical next questions. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more families and clinicians can find the science, faster.

    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

    Credits: Music by Kingsley Durant from his "Convertible" album

    To learn more about PANDAS and PANS and The Alex Manfull Fund, visit our website: TheAlexManfullFund.org

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    1 時間 18 分
  • S3 E23: Jadin O'Brien Overcomes PANDAS to Excel in Track & Field and Compete on the USA Olympic Bobsled Team

    S3 E23: Jadin O'Brien Overcomes PANDAS to Excel in Track & Field and Compete on the USA Olympic Bobsled Team
    2026/03/30

    Jaden O’Brien takes us inside the world of Olympic bobsled racing, beginning with the grind of multi-event track at Notre Dame to a three-week bobsled tryout in Lake Placid that turned into a World Cup spot and a ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics with Team USA.

    We talk through the unglamorous parts: learning an unnatural push technique, handling pressure when one race can decide your entire season, and recovering from a violent crash that left her bruised, cut, and questioning whether racing again was smart. Jaden also shares what the Olympics actually feel like, the village setup outside Cortina, the opening and closing ceremonies, trading pins with athletes from around the globe, and the heartbreak of how a small early missstep can drop a team down the standings before you have time to breathe.

    Then the conversation shifts to the story that shaped her long before bobsled. Jaden describes living with PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections), including sudden intrusive thoughts, intense obsessions and compulsions, fear-driven rituals, and feeling mentally “blocked” from basic daily tasks. We unpack how families can miss the immune-triggered pattern, what helped her find a path back, and why mental health support, including sports psychology, can be a strength rather than a stigma.

    Following my interview with Jadin, I had the honor of speaking with her mother, Leslie O'Brien, about witnessing Jadin's struggles with PANDAS and finding treatment for this horrific condition.

    If you’re searching for real-world insight on PANDAS, PANS, infection-triggered OCD, and resilience after neuroimmune illness, this one will stay with you.

    Subscribe for more conversations on PANDAS and PANS, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more families can find these stories. What part of Jaden’s journey hit you the hardest?

    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

    Credits: Music by Kingsley Durant from his "Convertible" album

    To learn more about PANDAS and PANS and The Alex Manfull Fund, visit our website: TheAlexManfullFund.org

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    1 時間 33 分
  • S3 E22: Dr. Omar Morales Talks About His Path to LymeMexico

    S3 E22: Dr. Omar Morales Talks About His Path to LymeMexico
    2026/02/23

    A sudden storm of obsessions, tics, rage, and cognitive chaos can follow a simple infection—and families are left searching for answers. We sit down with Dr. Omar Morales, a hematology‑trained clinician innovating at the intersection of infections and immune engineering, to unpack how blood-based therapies can change the trajectory of Lyme and PANDAS/PANS.

    Dr. Morales explains why he treats the biology rather than the label, then breaks down the roles of apheresis modalities. Red cell exchange rapidly dilutes Babesia lodged in red blood cells. Plasmapheresis removes inflammatory plasma, autoantibodies, and toxins that hammer the brain. Photopheresis, supercharged with photosensitizers, both weakens pathogens and reshapes immune signaling. From those sessions, his lab matures dendritic cells that “teach” T and B cells to target the right invaders—an immune reboot especially useful for Bartonella and persistent viral loads.

    We explore a practical sequence for severe PANS: “clean the house” with plasmapheresis, then add IVIG, and repeat as needed while targeting infections in parallel. Morales details how environmental disruptors—mold, heavy metals, chemicals, and STDs—can trigger relapse, why diet and microbiome rebuilding matter, and how barrier repair for the gut and blood–brain barrier reduces neuroinflammation. He shares neuroregenerative strategies, from peptides to neural‑derived exosomes, to help brains recover from years of inflammatory wear and tear.

    What emerges is a playbook for complex, immune‑mediated neuropsychiatric illness that blends hematology, microbiology, and patient‑centered pragmatism. You’ll hear a remarkable case rescued by red cell exchange, the logic behind choosing each modality, and the call for tighter collaboration between clinicians and scientists to speed innovation. Subscribe, share with someone who needs this, and leave a review to help more families find these tools.

    Link reference in the interview: https://youtu.be/oNI52TIFEGA?si=XLnAzSXWoPAuSKIG

    Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

    Credits: Music by Kingsley Durant from his "Convertible" album

    To learn more about PANDAS and PANS and The Alex Manfull Fund, visit our website: TheAlexManfullFund.org

    Follow us on:
    Facebook
    Instagram
    LinkedIn
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    1 時間 23 分
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