Neuropsychiatry, Brain Inflammation, and the Science of Persistent Lyme with GLA Gala Honoree, Dr. Brian Fallon

<p>Can a tick-borne infection masquerade as a primary psychiatric condition? In this episode of the <em>Lyme+ Podcast</em>, host Kenzie Vath sits down with <strong>Dr. Brian Fallon</strong>, Director of Columbia University&#39;s Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Research Center and a global authority on neuropsychiatric Lyme disease.</p><p>Dr. Fallon traces his pioneering work from his landmark 1994 <em>American Journal of Psychiatry</em> cover story to modern clinical trials at Columbia University. Discover how stealth infections trigger immune-mediated central nervous system inflammation, why standard antibiotic protocols may leave lingering cognitive deficits, and the revolutionary therapies on the horizon.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we discuss:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The Neuropsychiatric Manifestation of Lyme:</strong> Why late-stage and persistent Lyme triggers brain fog, treatment-refractory depression, panic attacks, and cognitive decline.</p></li><li><p><strong>Brain Scans &amp; Objective Proof:</strong> What SPECT scans revealed about cerebral vasculitis and how PET imaging tracks altered metabolic activity and blood flow in chronic Lyme encephalopathy.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Danish Registry Study on Suicide Risk:</strong> The alarming GLA-funded epidemiological data revealing a 75% increase in suicide and a 200% increase in suicidal behavior following Lyme disease diagnosis.</p></li><li><p><strong>Inflammatory Cytokines &amp; Glutamate:</strong> How elevated interferon-alpha and neurotransmitter excitotoxicity impact mental health and cognitive function.</p></li><li><p><strong>Cutting-Edge Clinical Trials at Columbia:</strong> How non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with cognitive training are calming inflammation and restoring brain networks.</p></li><li><p><strong>Diagnostic Gaps &amp; Pathogen Debris:</strong> The urgent search for active-infection biomarkers and the role of persistent peptidoglycan fragments.</p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.globallymealliance.org/gala2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>To Learn More About the GLA Gala: </strong>https://www.globallymealliance.org/gala2026</a></p><p><strong>Connect &amp; Resources Mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Columbia Center:</strong> <a href="https://www.columbia-lyme.org/?utm_source=gemini" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseas