Your Brain On Your Brain On... Lyme Disease
May 15, 2025
John Aucott, Director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center, and Richard Marconi, a microbiology professor at VCU, shed light on the complex landscape of Lyme disease. They discuss lingering symptoms post-treatment and Lyme's neurological challenges. The conversation reveals how climate change and social disparities amplify tick-borne illnesses. They also explore the pitfalls of alternative medicine targeting vulnerable patients and the future of Lyme vaccines, making the case for improved trust in healthcare through empathy and transparency.
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Lyme Disease Reveals Systemic Flaws
- Lyme disease illustrates healthcare system flaws including inequality, misinformation, and scientific mistrust.
- Its complexity demands a broader, patient-centered scientific dialogue to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Ecology Drives Lyme Resurgence
- Lyme disease requires three ecological factors: ticks, reservoir hosts like mice, and deer as tick food.
- Suburban development has recreated an ideal environment for Lyme disease resurgence.
Testing Challenges in Lyme
- Lyme disease lacks direct infection tests; antibody tests only show immune memory.
- Early testing often leads to false negatives as antibodies may not have developed yet.