Chronic Immunological and Neurological Disease (CIND)
Written by Kelsey Woods
Every year on May 12th, the world celebrates international awareness day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND). This day is intended to spread awareness, raise funds for patients and care providers, and provide education to the wider community about the illness.
Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases or CIND is a term used to refer to a group of diseases affecting both the central nervous system and immune system. CIND covers a range of illnesses like that of Fibromyalgia, Gulf War Syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinsons to name a few.
The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal cord. This system is incredibly important as it is responsible for the body's automatic functions like breathing, digestion and heart rate. The brain receives information from the body's other systems and uses that to respond and make adjustments to maintain balance, or homeostasis, within the body. The spine is vital for relaying sensory and motor information back to the brain. The CNS is responsible for our fight or flight response, pain response, emotional processing, sensory feedback and much more (Thau et al., 2022).
Nerves located in the brain and spinal cord are coated in an insulating layer called a myelin sheath. This sheath allows electrical signals to transmit quickly through the nervous system to reach the brain (Vorvick, 2023). Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases cause inflammation or damage to this protective sheath, causing the impulses to slow and the signals to become lost or confused.
Until recently, CIND’s were identified based on the pathological origination of the inflammatory response within the CNS. Conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and ALS are often triggered or influenced by another system, like the immune system. Recent studies show that there is also a role that chronic inflammation plays in neurological conditions like Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Huntington disease and following traumatic brain injuries. There have also been studies that have shown evidence that there is a correlation between a small number of patients who have contracted COVID-19 and presented with neurological disorders with CIND-like symptoms (George et al., 2021). Better understanding how these inflammatory processes affect different diseases is the first step to developing advanced therapeutic interventions and pharmacological approaches (Degan et al., 2018).
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) present issues with chronic inflammation of nerves, caused by damage to the myelin sheath. Although the cause for MS is unknown, inflammation occurs from immune cells attacking the nerves in the brain, optic nerve or spinal cord (Campellone, 2022). Patients display mild to severe symptoms of vision loss, inability to speak, loss of mobility, fatigue, and memory loss. This disease is chronic and presents more frequently in women between the ages of 30 to 40.
People living with these conditions often require additional care due to the severity of their symptoms. In Australia, CIND illnesses are eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme where patients are able to access support for their physical, psychological and social needs. Carers spend significant time working with CIND patients and despite heavy emotional and physical strains, often report positive benefits from providing care (Fisher, et al., 2011). Diagnosis is essential and the first steps look like visiting a General Practitioner (GP) and going through a series of specialist tests.
You can find more information on education and support on CIND conditions via Me & CFS Association website: https://may12th.org.au/international-me-cfs-awareness-day/