Book

Inflammation of the nervous system is now recognised in almost every neurological disease, from Alzheimer's disease and stroke to epilepsy, migraine and depression. It can protect and repair the brain, and it can also destroy synapses, myelin and neurons. This illustrated translational reference sets out what is known, and what is still uncertain, about neuroinflammation and the drugs that modify it. Ten chapters cover the cells and barriers of the neuroimmune system, the molecular mechanisms of inflammation, and its role in neurodegenerative, autoimmune, acute injury, epileptic, pain, migraine, neuropsychiatric and infectious disorders. They also cover the pharmacological classes that act on it, the problem of delivery across the blood-brain barrier, biomarkers and trial design, and emerging therapies. Each disease and drug topic follows a consistent format with an at-a-glance table, key points and common pitfalls. The evidence is graded as cell-based, animal, human observational or clinical trial evidence, and failed trials and open controversies are discussed. The book draws mainly on peer-reviewed literature from 2018 onwards and gives no drug doses or regimens. It is written for postgraduate students, neuroscientists, pharmacologists, neurologists, clinical pharmacists and translational researchers.