The Hidden Link Between Infections and Sudden Behavior Changes

Episode 42 of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast podcast, hosted by Nancy O'Hara MD, titled "The Hidden Link Between Infections and Sudden Behavior Changes" was published on December 10, 2025 and runs 43 minutes.

December 10, 2025 ·43m · Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast

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Summary

What if your child’s sudden tics, rages, anxiety, or personality changes were signs of the immune system attacking the brain after an infection? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Craig Shimasaki reveals how a simple blood test can uncover hidden immune reactions, explain the most confusing symptoms, and point families toward real answers and real healing.If your child changed overnight, this conversation may explain why and what to do next. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Craig Shimasaki joins us to talk about how a simple infection can confuse the immune system and cause it to accidentally target the brain, leading to the sudden tics, rages, anxiety, and behavior shifts so many families experience. Tune in as we explore why these immune reactions are easily accepted when they affect the joints or thyroid, yet are dismissed as ‘behavioral’ when they affect the brain. Dr. Shimasaki also highlights the powerful role of gut health, microbiome diversity, and everyday exposures in shaping the immune system. His message is simple: when families understand the root cause, and when clinicians treat what the immune system is actually doing, kids and adults can improve in ways once thought impossible.Dr. Craig Shimasaki is a molecular biologist, entrepreneur, and long-time leader in turning scientific discoveries into real-world medical breakthroughs. With more than three decades of experience in molecular biology, infectious disease, and immune-triggered brain disorders, he co-founded Moleculera Biosciences, a precision medicine company helping families uncover the immune root causes behind sudden neurologic, psychiatric, and behavioral symptoms. Today, he teaches biotechnology entrepreneurship and works with scientists and clinicians around the world to bring urgently needed medical innovations to patients. Dr. Shimasaki has become a leading voice in understanding how infections can trigger autoimmune reactions in the brain, and how identifying these reactions can change the trajectory of a child’s life.Craig Shimasaki, PhD, MBAWebsite: moleculera.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/craig-shimasaki-45b4a618Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPSWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PODCASTThank you for listening. Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

Episode Description

What if your child’s sudden tics, rages, anxiety, or personality changes were signs of the immune system attacking the brain after an infection? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Craig Shimasaki reveals how a simple blood test can uncover hidden immune reactions, explain the most confusing symptoms, and point families toward real answers and real healing.

If your child changed overnight, this conversation may explain why and what to do next. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Craig Shimasaki joins us to talk about how a simple infection can confuse the immune system and cause it to accidentally target the brain, leading to the sudden tics, rages, anxiety, and behavior shifts so many families experience. Tune in as we explore why these immune reactions are easily accepted when they affect the joints or thyroid, yet are dismissed as ‘behavioral’ when they affect the brain. Dr. Shimasaki also highlights the powerful role of gut health, microbiome diversity, and everyday exposures in shaping the immune system. His message is simple: when families understand the root cause, and when clinicians treat what the immune system is actually doing, kids and adults can improve in ways once thought impossible.

Dr. Craig Shimasaki is a molecular biologist, entrepreneur, and long-time leader in turning scientific discoveries into real-world medical breakthroughs. With more than three decades of experience in molecular biology, infectious disease, and immune-triggered brain disorders, he co-founded Moleculera Biosciences, a precision medicine company helping families uncover the immune root causes behind sudden neurologic, psychiatric, and behavioral symptoms. Today, he teaches biotechnology entrepreneurship and works with scientists and clinicians around the world to bring urgently needed medical innovations to patients. Dr. Shimasaki has become a leading voice in understanding how infections can trigger autoimmune reactions in the brain, and how identifying these reactions can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Craig Shimasaki, PhD, MBA

Website: moleculera.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/craig-shimasaki-45b4a618

Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com