Immune System and Social Interactions

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have reported that the immune system directly impacts the social behavior of human beings including their desire to interact with others. They are also suggesting that this discovery could have significant implications for neurological diseases such as autism-spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Jonathan Kipnis, lead researcher for some of these studies, has been quoted as saying: “The brain and the adaptive immune system were thought to be isolated from each other, and any immune activity in the brain was perceived as sign of a pathology. And now, not only are we showing that they are closely interacting, but some of our behavior traits might have evolved because of our immune response to pathogens.” Add that to the study results of the link between anxiety, depression, and viral diseases and it makes one wonder if there is much of anything related to brain and body and health that are not closely connected. My brain’s opinion is that health and wellness and longevity are linked with the wholistic and balanced (or unbalanced) interactions in the BodyMind.