Excess cerebral TNF causing glutamate excitotoxicity rationalizes treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurogenic pain by anti-TNF agents

Table 1 Association of excess TNF and glutamate in brain in neurodegenerative states. See text for references

Disease	Excess brain TNF	Excess brain glutamate
Alzheimer’s disease	+	+
Parkinson’s disease	+	+
Huntington’s disease	+	+
Amyotropic lateral sclerosis	+	+
Septic encephalopathy	+	+
Traumatic brain injury	+	+
Stroke	+	+
Poor post-operative cognition	+	+
Poor post-irradiation cognition	+	+
Poor post-chemotherapy cognition	+	?
Poor cognition in rheumatoid arthritis	+	?
Epileptic seizures	+	+
HIV dementia	+	+
Cerebral malaria	+	+
Neurogenic pain	+	+
Viral encephalitides	+	+