Periphery: How Your Nervous System Predicts and Protects Against Disease

Disturbances in the peripheral nervous system may play an important role in a variety of diseases and conditions, according to New York University neuroscientist Chao’s eye-opening debut. The peripheral nervous system, or PNS, he notes, is “an elaborate set of nerve networks, spinal roots, and sensory and autonomic ganglia” that “affects blood flow, heart rate, oxygen exchange in the lungs, and even the contraction of the eye muscles.” Arguing that the PNS’s role in health and disease has been overlooked, Chao contends that research findings suggesting PNS involvement in the gut-brain axis and the distribution of a protein responsible for regulating sleep might implicate the PNS in Parkinson’s disease, whose early symptoms include constipation and insomnia. The author also suggests the PNS may be involved in autism, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and Riley-Day syndrome, but he acknowledges that “not all of these associations are considered to be entirely proven” and his theories require an “openness of mind.” The dense scientific discussions will challenge lay readers (“The Bmal1 protein is expressed peripherally in skeletal muscle”), but Chao makes a convincing case that scientists would do well to focus research on the PNS and its relationship with disease. Medical researchers will find much to ponder. (Oct.)