Can Lupus Cause Mental Illness?
Disruptions with the blood-brain barrier
Our brain is protected with the help of the so-called blood-brain barrier. Thus, in theory, it would not be possible for many harmful chemicals and inflammatory mediators to enter the brain. However, in a chronic autoimmune disease like lupus, it seems that these defenses are often compromised. Various harmful chemicals released in the disease process are able to penetrate the brain, and thus able to cause direct damage to the brain cells, resulting in a mental disability.
