Mikhaila Fuller, the daughter of Dr. Jordan Peterson (63), shared yesterday (Aug. 13) that her father will be “taking time off from everything” after he was diagnosed with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome).
According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), CIRS is an “acquired medical condition characterized by innate immune dysregulation following respiratory exposure to water-damaged buildings. This chronic syndrome involves a range of symptoms that simultaneously [affect] multiple organ systems.”
Fuller co-founded Peterson Academy in 2024 alongside her father and serves as the online education platform’s CEO.
Peterson is a Canadian-born psychologist, conservative media commentator, author, and podcaster. Although Peterson does not identify as a Christian, he has interviewed and had conversations on his show with Christians such as Greg Laurie, Tim Tebow, and Dallas Jenkins.
Fuller explained in a social media post that her father was “diagnosed with CIRS due to a genetic predisposition that causes the immune system to have an inability to identify and detoxify mold/bacteria in indoor air.” She continued, “The genetic predisposition is not that rare, it’s in about 25% of people but he has a severe version.”
Hey guys, @jordanbpeterson is taking some time off of everything.
He was diagnosed with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) due to a genetic predisposition that causes the immune system to have an inability to identify and detoxify mold/bacteria in indoor air (the…
— Mikhaila Peterson (@MikhailaFuller) August 13, 2025
Peterson has felt the impact of CIRS increase over the last year. Fuller said that Peterson was recently “exposed to a particularly moldy environment while helping clean out my grandfather’s house after he passed away which severely flared symptoms.”
“To be crystal clear,” she said, “this isn’t about akathisia or medication. He’s not on any medication. It’s an immune system dysfunction.”
Fuller added, “CIRS is what has been behind his multiple health issues and random severe allergies and severe food sensitivities over the years. He’s really been suffering from this badly since 2017 we just didn’t know what it was called.” Fuller told her social media followers that it was only when her father ate meat that he was able to keep the “symptoms under control but it hasn’t been enough recently.”
CIRS has resulted in Peterson appearing to be “rundown and general weepiness” which is caused by pain, Fuller said. This is why Peterson has had to cancel events. “He’s pausing the podcast at the moment but we’re hopeful for a somewhat speedy recovery given we at least know what’s going on,” she said, “and there is treatment, and he’s responding well although it’s pretty rough.”
Fuller praised God for allowing them to “finally know” what has been going on with her father.
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, shared on Aug. 13 that her father will be “taking time off from everything” after he was diagnosed with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome).){kind=link}