ASPIRE Blog

Parents say their children seemingly change overnight, displaying dangerous behaviors that often mimic symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder or schizophrenia. However, getting a proper diagnosis can be difficult. Three Louisiana families are sharing their stories to raise awareness about a misunderstood condition often triggered by something as common as strep throat.

  WFFT-TV 55 News By: David Tilmans, Oct 9, 2025 Watch Newscast and Read Article FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) – – The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge is […]

I want to thank our entire community for participating in PANS PANDAS Awareness Day yesterday. Your posts, lights, and conversations made a powerful impact. Today is World Mental Health Day, […]

Weinstock LB, Afrin LB, Reiersen AM, Brook J, Blitshteyn S, Ehrlich G, Schofield JR, Kinsella L, Kaufman D, Dempsey T, Molderings GJ. Prevalence and treatment response of neuropsychiatric disorders in […]

Daily Herald – Suburban Chicago’s News Source October 06, 2025 On Thursday, Oct. 9, the Millennium Carillon in Naperville will light up green in honor of World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day, […]

By Gabriella True, President, Alliance to Solve PANS & Immune-Related Encephalopathies (ASPIRE) Each year, countless children and adults with PANS PANDAS lose critical time, time when early diagnosis and proper […]

When Inflammation Is Dismissed: B’s Battle with PANS and Tick-Borne Co-Infections Acute neuroinflammation can be life-changing—and it’s appalling when providers dismiss these symptoms as psychiatric only. In 2019, B was […]

When severe food restriction and complex symptoms are mistaken for FND, proper evaluation is crucial. When Sophie got the flu at age 12, she didn’t expect it would mark the […]

When a child’s behavior changes dramatically overnight, early recognition can make all the difference. This 6-year-old daughter woke up with sudden, severe contamination OCD, separation anxiety, and aggressive outbursts. Her […]

When your child declines rapidly and no one believes you—trusting your instincts can save the day. Countless calls to pediatricians and child psychologists led nowhere. No one believed her symptoms […]

McKenzie hasn’t officially been diagnosed with PANDAS by her pediatrician, as we are in the early stages; however, no one can convince me otherwise. My family’s life has been completely turned upside down for the last several months, with so many overwhelming emotions felt by all. I want to help as many families as possible and raise awareness about this issue. To begin, I will share our story so far.

One year ago, Penelope was bitten by a tick, marking the beginning of our journey to uncover the truth. When she showed me the characteristic bull’s-eye bite, I initially mistook it for a spider bite, being unaware of Ticks and Lyme Disease.