06/13/2026
🧠 NEW PANS RESEARCH - "In vitro ibuprofen has gene regulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals with infection-provoked neurodevelopmental disorders"
Researchers led by Dr. Velda Han and Professor Russell Dale at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney have published new research exploring how ibuprofen may affect immune pathways in children with infection-triggered neurodevelopmental conditions, including PANS.
The study found evidence of immune and gene-regulation abnormalities in affected children. Using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing, the research team demonstrated that ibuprofen reduced inflammatory immune activity and shifted several dysregulated pathways toward healthier patterns in laboratory testing.
The researchers also reported that families of 18 children observed improvements in symptoms such as emotional regulation, OCD, anxiety, aggression, and rage during infection-related flares when ibuprofen was used.
While this was a small exploratory study and larger clinical trials are needed, the findings add to a growing body of evidence supporting the role of immune-brain interactions in PANS and related conditions.
👏 Congratulations to Dr. Han, Professor Dale, and colleagues on this important contribution to the field.
📖 Read the study: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-026-02282-7
