This concept of collateral damage of the immune system is not a new one in the world of neurology. There are many neurological conditions that have a similar basis. Guillain—Barré syndrome, a devastating and life-threatening destruction of peripheral nerves, has long been known to be triggered by Campylobacter, a bacterium that causes food poisoning, and post-infection and post-vaccination damage to the brain or peripheral nerves is well recognised. Infectious agents will often use ‘molecular mimicry’ — appearing structurally similar to the body’s own molecules — to outsmart the immune system.
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