Tick Boot Camp Podcast
Dr. Lindsey Wells, ND, joined Matt Sabatello on the Tick Boot Camp Podcast to discuss her groundbreaking research into folate receptor alpha autoantibodies (FRAAs), vector-borne diseases, autism, PANS/PANDAS, and neurological symptoms.
Meet Dr. Lindsey Wells, ND
Dr. Lindsey Wells is a naturopathic physician based in Trumbull, Connecticut, whose practice focuses on children and families navigating complex neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, immune, and chronic health conditions.
Her clinical interests include autism spectrum disorder, PANS/PANDAS, pediatric Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia, and other vector-borne illnesses.
Rather than looking at symptoms in isolation, Dr. Wells works to understand the biological and environmental factors that may be influencing a child’s health, including infection, inflammation, immune function, nutrition, mitochondrial health, environmental exposures, and neurological function.
Her individualized approach incorporates naturopathic and integrative therapies, including botanical medicine, nutraceuticals, nutrition, homeopathy, and supportive care.
From Pediatric Medicine to Complex Chronic Illness
Dr. Wells knew early in her naturopathic medical education that she wanted to work with children.
During her clinical training, pediatric rotations introduced her to children, adolescents, and young adults with autism and other special needs. These experiences shaped her career and helped establish her long-term interest in neurodevelopmental medicine.
After beginning in a broader pediatric practice, Dr. Wells spent approximately seven years working alongside her mentor, Dr. Nancy O’Hara. During that time, her clinical work increasingly focused on children with PANS/PANDAS and complex neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Over time, she began noticing that some children did not follow the expected pattern of a PANDAS flare following a streptococcal infection and then improving.
Instead, some remained chronically symptomatic or experienced dramatic reactions to multiple infectious and environmental triggers.
These observations led Dr. Wells to investigate Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia, and other vector-borne infections more closely.
Today, evaluating potential infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and immune-related contributors is an important part of her work with complex pediatric patients.
Autism, Regression and the Search for Underlying Triggers
Autism has been an important part of Dr. Wells’ clinical work since the beginning of her career.
During her medical training, she was particularly drawn to working with autistic adolescents and young adults, a population she felt did not always receive the same attention or range of supportive care options available to younger children.
Dr. Wells emphasizes that there should not be an arbitrary age at which clinicians stop looking for opportunities to improve someone’s health, communication, daily functioning, and quality of life.
In her Tick Boot Camp interview, Dr. Wells explains that autism is diagnosed through a comprehensive clinical evaluation, often involving developmental pediatricians, neurologists, and other specialists.
Her integrative clinical approach also considers whether genetic susceptibility may interact with environmental and biological factors that influence a patient’s health.
These factors may include infection, inflammation, immune dysregulation, nutritional status, mitochondrial function, and other physiological stressors.
Dr. Wells is particularly interested in children who experience sudden developmental or behavioral regression, including changes in communication, academic performance, emotional regulation, or neurological functioning following an illness or another potential trigger.
In these situations, she considers whether PANS or another neuroimmune process may be contributing to the child’s changing symptoms.
She also describes seeing children whose behavioral, cognitive, or sensory symptoms fluctuate significantly, sometimes becoming more pronounced during periods of illness or inflammation.
These observations have contributed to her interest in exploring possible relationships among autism, PANS/PANDAS, vector-borne disease, and immune dysfunction.
Although the underlying causes of autism are complex and research into these proposed relationships is ongoing, Dr. Wells believes evaluating potentially treatable co-occurring medical conditions can be an important part of individualized care.
PANS/PANDAS and Infection-Triggered Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, while PANDAS refers to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.
These conditions can involve sudden and sometimes dramatic changes in a child’s neurological, psychiatric, and behavioral functioning.
Symptoms may include obsessive-compulsive behaviors, anxiety, separation anxiety, motor or vocal tics, sleep disturbances, attention difficulties, emotional dysregulation, irritability, changes in academic performance, and other neurological or behavioral concerns.
Dr. Wells’ clinical approach explores the possibility that some children may have several overlapping contributors rather than one isolated trigger.
She considers infections, immune activation, inflammation, and other biological stressors as potential parts of a broader clinical picture.
Her goal is to better understand what may be contributing to the individual’s symptoms and develop an individualized care plan.
Looking for Vector-Borne Disease in Complex Pediatric Cases
Practicing in the Northeast has made tick exposure and vector-borne infections an important consideration in Dr. Wells’ clinical work.
She describes encountering children with persistent or unusually severe PANS/PANDAS symptoms who also have evidence of infections involving Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, or other pathogens.
Bartonella is of particular interest in her clinical practice because she frequently encounters evidence of the infection in children experiencing significant neuropsychiatric symptoms, including aggression, rage, irritability, anxiety, OCD, and sensory sensitivity.
These clinical observations have motivated her interest in better understanding the relationship between infection, immune dysfunction, and neurological symptoms.
Her approach emphasizes looking beyond a diagnostic label and exploring what additional medical factors may be contributing to an individual child’s illness.
An Integrative Approach to Treatment
Dr. Wells describes her approach to complex PANS/PANDAS and pediatric chronic illness as involving several interconnected goals.
When appropriate, her treatment plans may include addressing identified or suspected infectious contributors through antimicrobial strategies, including botanical medicine.
She also considers immune regulation, inflammation, nutritional status, and other physiological factors that may influence symptoms and recovery.
Symptom management remains another important part of her approach.
For a child experiencing disabling anxiety, OCD, aggression, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, speech changes, or other significant symptoms, improving day-to-day functioning and quality of life is an important goal alongside investigating possible underlying contributors.
Dr. Wells emphasizes that treatment should reflect the patient’s individual circumstances, medical history, and tolerance for different interventions.
This whole-person approach reflects the philosophy that originally drew her to naturopathic medicine.
Botanical Medicine and Pediatric-Friendly Formulations
Botanical medicine plays an important role in Dr. Wells’ clinical practice.
Because children and medically sensitive patients may have difficulty tolerating alcohol-based herbal tinctures, she has extensive experience with glycerite-based botanical preparations.
Glycerites are herbal extracts prepared using glycerin, often providing a sweeter, alcohol-free alternative to traditional herbal tinctures.
In her clinical work, Dr. Wells discusses the use of individualized herbs and nutritional supplements intended to address infectious, inflammatory, neurological, mitochondrial, and symptom-related concerns.
These approaches are tailored to the individual patient, particularly when working with children who have complex medical histories or heightened sensitivities.
Dr. Wells’ Research: Folate Receptor Autoantibodies and Brain Health
In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Wells contributes to research examining folate metabolism, autoimmunity, and neuropsychiatric illness.
She has published research investigating folate receptor alpha autoantibodies in PANS/PANDAS and is the first author of a 2026 study examining these autoantibodies in patients with vector-borne diseases.
Her latest publication, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies in Vector-Borne Disease Populations, explores a possible relationship between vector-borne infections and autoantibodies that may interfere with folate transport into the brain.
The retrospective study found that 61.8% of the 68 patients in its vector-borne disease-positive cohort tested positive for folate receptor alpha autoantibodies. The findings raise questions about potential connections among infection, immune dysfunction, cerebral folate metabolism, and neurological symptoms, although the study does not establish causation.
Dr. Wells also discusses potential clinical approaches for patients with folate receptor autoantibodies, including ways to support folate delivery to the brain.
Read the research: Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies in Vector-Borne Disease Populations.
For a detailed discussion of her findings, testing, clinical observations, and possible treatment approaches, listen to Episode 595 of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast with Dr. Lindsey Wells.
Leadership, Advocacy and Education
Dr. Wells is a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs (FMAPS) and has served as President of the Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Association.
Through her professional leadership, she has worked to strengthen Connecticut’s naturopathic medical community and advocate for the profession.
She also lectures to healthcare professionals and parent audiences on topics including autism, PANS/PANDAS, integrative pediatric care, and related health concerns.
Dr. Wells is the author of the children’s book Super Sam and the Battle Against PANS/PANDAS.
She also created the Well-Minded Mommas Club, a community intended to support mothers raising children with complex health challenges.
Supporting the Entire Family
An important part of Dr. Wells’ philosophy is recognizing that chronic childhood illness affects the entire family.
Parents, siblings, relationships, school, work, daily routines, and emotional well-being can all be affected when a child is struggling with a complex medical condition.
Dr. Wells believes supporting caregivers and the broader family unit is an important part of helping children improve their physical, emotional, social, and academic well-being.
She encourages families to remain hopeful, seek answers, and recognize that progress and improved quality of life may still be possible even after years of challenges.
This family-centered philosophy has remained central to her work throughout her career.
Learn More or Work With Dr. Lindsey Wells
Dr. Lindsey Wells practices in Trumbull, Connecticut, where she focuses on individualized naturopathic and integrative care for children and families navigating autism, PANS/PANDAS, tick-borne diseases, and complex chronic illness.
For more information about Dr. Wells’ background, clinical services, appointment availability, and how to work with her, visit her official website:
