Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP

Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP Dr. Nancy O’Hara's functional medicine practice integrates the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and various chronic illnesses.

02/26/2026

In a time when medicine — and the world — can feel rushed, polarized, and impersonal, one of the most powerful things we can offer families is simple human connection.

In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Larry Rosen reminds us that listening without judgment, approaching each other with humility, and seeing one another as human beings first can transform care. For children with complex neuroimmune conditions, feeling heard is often the first step toward meaningful support.

Hope grows when we slow down, stay curious, and remain open to one another’s experiences.

Check out the full episode! Link in bio.

02/25/2026

If you are a parent struggling to hold everything together while your child is suffering, please hear this:

You are not failing.

In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Larry Rosen and I discuss the emotional toll these conditions place on families — the financial strain, exhaustion, guilt, and isolation that so many parents carry silently. We also talk about the importance of compassion, support, and giving yourself grace during an incredibly difficult journey.

Most parents are doing the very best they can with the information, resources, and energy they have.

If that’s you, this conversation is for you.

Watch the newest episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast! Link in bio.

02/24/2026

Many families tell me their child’s symptoms weren’t dismissed because doctors didn’t care — they were dismissed because providers simply didn’t recognize what they were seeing.

In the upcoming episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Larry Rosen and I talk about why awareness matters so deeply in primary care. Pediatricians don’t need to have all the answers, but they do need the language, openness, and willingness to consider that abrupt neuropsychiatric changes may have an immune-driven cause.

When clinicians recognize PANS/PANDAS early, families are no longer left searching alone — they have a starting point.

This episode goes live tomorrow, wherever you get your podcasts, check out Demystifying PANS/PANDAS! Stay tuned!

A Conference Created Just for Parents of Complex KidsI’m excited to share the MAPS Parent Conference, happening March 14...
02/23/2026

A Conference Created Just for Parents of Complex Kids

I’m excited to share the MAPS Parent Conference, happening March 14–15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC (with a virtual option available).

This dedicated Parent Conference was created in response to families asking for deeper understanding, real answers, and a space to ask “why?” directly to MAPS clinicians who work in complexity every day.

✔ Parent Q&A Roundtable (Saturday evening)
✔ Full day of parent-focused lectures (Sunday)
✔ Designed exclusively for parents & caregivers

🎟️ Tickets are $125
💙 Use code OHARA10 to save $10

👉 Learn more & register: medmaps.org/parents

02/19/2026

One of the hardest lessons many families learn is that medicine often treats symptoms before asking what’s causing them.

In the children and families I work with, neuropsychiatric symptoms like anxiety, irritability, depression, or sudden behavioral changes are often viewed in isolation. But in many cases, infections and immune activation are part of the story — especially in PANS/PANDAS and other complex chronic illnesses.

Watch the full podcast, Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, and check out more at drohara.com

02/18/2026

Sometimes what looks psychiatric… isn’t psychiatric at all.

I’ve seen this over and over again in my practice — when infections and inflammation disrupt brain chemistry, behavior and thinking can change in ways that feel frightening and unrecognizable to families. Anxiety, hallucinations, personality changes, and cognitive decline can look like primary mental health or neurodegenerative conditions, when in some cases the underlying driver is biological.

Watch the full podcast, Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, wherever you get your podcasts! And find out more at drohara.com

Zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral vital for over 200 enzymatic pathways including immune function, cell growth, wound he...
02/17/2026

Zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral vital for over 200 enzymatic pathways including immune function, cell growth, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and senses of taste/smell.

References:

DiGirolamo AM, Ramirez-Zea M. Role of zinc in maternal and child mental health. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Mar;89(3):940S-945S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26692C. Epub 2009 Jan 28. PMID: 19176735

Li Jin et al. Zinc Intakes and Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review. Frontiers in Nutrition. Volume 9. 2022DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.798078

Li, DD, Zhang, W, Wang, ZY, & Zhao, P. (2017). Serum Copper, Zinc, and Iron Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 9, 300. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00300

Maares, M, & Haase, H. (2016). Zinc and immunity: An essential interrelation. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 611, 58–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2016.03.022

Maywald, M., & Rink, L. (2022). Zinc in Human Health and Infectious Diseases. Biomolecules, 12(12), 1748. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12121748

Ozgur Yorbik, M. Fatih Ozdag, Abdullah Olgun, M. Guney Senol, Semai Bek, Serif Akman. Potential effects of zinc on information processing in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. Volume 32, Issue 3, 2008. Pages 662-667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.11.009

Roohani N, Hurrell R, Kelishadi R, Schulin R. Zinc and its importance for human health: An integrative review. J Res Med Sci. 2013 Feb;18(2):144-57. PMID: 23914218

Stiles, L.I., Ferrao, K. & Mehta, K.J. Role of zinc in health and disease. Clin Exp Med 24, 38 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-024-01302-6

Toufexis MD, Hommer R, Gerardi DM, et al. Disordered eating and food restrictions in children with PANDAS/PANS. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2015;25(1):48-56. doi:10.1089/cap.2014.0063

Wang, L, & Song, Y. (2018). Efficacy of zinc given as an adjunct to the treatment of severe pneumonia: A meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trials. The Clinical Respiratory Journal, 12(3), 857–864. https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.12646

02/16/2026

Fever can be uncomfortable to watch as a parent — but it’s important to remember that fever itself is not the enemy.

Fever is one of the body’s natural defense mechanisms. It helps the immune system respond to infections and supports the body’s ability to heal. When we immediately suppress every fever, we may also be suppressing part of the immune response the body is trying to mount.

I often encourage families to pause and consider the full picture. There are times when medication is appropriate, but there are also many situations where supporting the body’s natural processes — hydration, rest, comfort, and monitoring — allows the immune system to do what it was designed to do.

Understanding why the body responds the way it does helps us make calmer, more informed decisions, especially when caring for children whose immune systems are already under stress.

Join our membership to get handouts, learn more. 50% membership for parents and practitioenrs coming in May, stay tuned and check out more at drohara.com

02/12/2026

Most parents give acetaminophen because they’re trying to help their child feel better. That’s what we’ve all been told to do.

In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. William Parker and I talk about how repeated exposure can add up over time, especially in children who are already under immune or oxidative stress. We discuss historical research, clinical observations, and why timing and frequency may matter more than most people realize.

This conversation isn’t about blame — it’s about understanding risk, asking better questions, and giving families the information they need to make informed decisions moving forward.

If you’re caring for a child with autism, PANS/PANDAS, or regression after illness or inflammation, this episode provides important context.

02/11/2026

Many parents are surprised to learn that acetaminophen creates a toxic byproduct in the body — one that must be neutralized by glutathione, our master antioxidant.

In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. William Parker and I discuss why oxidative stress changes how children respond to common medications, and why this may help explain vulnerability in children with autism, PANS/PANDAS, and other neuroinflammatory conditions.

We talk about:

- How metabolism and detoxification pathways influence risk

- Why oxidative stress increases susceptibility in certain children

- And why understanding mechanism matters when we’re trying to make safer decisions for our kids

Watch or listen to the latest episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast now on your favorite podcast platform! Link in bio!

02/10/2026

Autism is complex. But sometimes the conversation around risk becomes confusing because we’re not asking the right questions.

In this week’s episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, I speak with biochemist and immunologist Dr. William Parker about why susceptibility matters — and why some research appears reassuring only because it removes the very children who may be most vulnerable.

We discuss how timing, metabolism, and individual susceptibility change how acetaminophen affects the developing brain, and why looking at one study in isolation can miss the bigger picture.

If you’ve ever wondered why some children seem more affected by environmental or medication exposures than others, this is an important conversation.

Link in bio!

Claudia Miller, MD and many others have done extensive research and education on indoor toxicants and their implications...
02/09/2026

Claudia Miller, MD and many others have done extensive research and education on indoor toxicants and their implications in diseases including cancer, autism, ADHD and many other chronic illnesses.

TILT stands for Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance. To understand the level of risk for you or your patient, refer to https://tiltresearch.org/self-assessment to take the self assessment test.

The study, "Assessing Chemical Intolerance in Parents Predicts the Risk of Autism and ADHD in Their Children" by Raymond F. Palmer, David Kattari, Rodolfo Rincon, and Claudia S. Miller, published in March 2024, found a strong association between parental chemical intolerance (CI) and the risk of their children being diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD.

SO much more information is needed but to learn more, please join Tania Dempsey, MD as she lectures on this and more at our Spring MAPS conference, March 12-14 in Charlotte, NC. For more information, go to http://medmaps.org

References:

Miller, Claudia S., and Thomas J. Prihoda. "A controlled comparison of symptoms and chemical intolerances reported by Gulf War veterans, implant recipients and persons with multiple chemical sensitivity." Toxicology and Industrial Health 15, no. 3-4 (1999): 386-397.

Palmer RF, Kattari D, Rincon R, Miller CS. Assessing Chemical Intolerance in Parents Predicts the Risk of Autism and ADHD in Their Children. J Xenobiot. 2024 Mar 5;14(1):350-367. doi: 10.3390/jox14010022. PMID: 38535497

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