Inflammation as a Potential Cause of Mood Disorders They found a strong correlation between infection, autoimmune disorders, and mood disorders, strengthening the hypothesis that depression is directly linked to inflammation.
Inflammatory changes in the brain parenchyma have also been associated with depression. Increased levels of TNFα in the hippocampus and striatum have been associated with anxious and depressed behavior in EAE studies, with the changes in the striatum occurring before the onset of clinical symptoms (49, 50).
Inflammation and Aggression
Chronic activation of the body's inflammatory system is associated with increases in hostility, aggression, and psychiatric symptoms. Although many of the symptoms include depression, anger and hostility are also prevalent.
Inflammation causes mood changes through alterations in subgenual cingulate activity and mesolimbic connectivity. Biol Psychiatry.
Overall, it is important to note that inflammation can lead to increases in sensitivity to positive social stimuli, including affiliative behavior in non-human animals and increases in desire to affiliate in humans, as well as increases in neural sensitivity to socially rewarding experiences.
Based on visual observation, the ancients characterised inflammation by five cardinal signs, namely redness (rubor), swelling (tumour), heat (calor; only applicable to the body' extremities), pain (dolor) and loss of function (functio laesa).
In some depressed patients, chronic inflammation can be either the cause or a strong contributing factor to depression (Almond, 2013). Furthermore, chronic inflammation is causative or contributory in many cases of anxiety (Salim, Chugh, & Asghar, 2012).
Experiencing pain regularly that is not attributable to an injury is an indicator of a lot of inflammation. If you notice pain at the end of your range of motion, you could have too much inflammation. It could also be a signal that you have developed arthritis.
When you're living with chronic inflammation, your body's inflammatory response can eventually start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Over time, this can lead to DNA damage, tissue death, and internal scarring. All of these are linked to the development of several diseases, including: cancer.
"Acute inflammation is how your body fights invaders that may cause infection, as well as being a part of the healing process," says Dr. Luster.
Anti-inflammatory agents can effectively and safely curb major depressive symptoms | BMJ.
Pro-inflammatory conditions can exert neurotoxic effects on the brain, with recent studies suggesting that anxiety symptoms represent brain alterations caused by neuro-inflammation [10].
Inflammation can injure the brain, possibly resulting in a coma or death. Other complications may last for months or be permanent. These complications can vary widely in severity and can include: Persistent fatigue.
The most common reasons for chronic inflammation include: Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, where your body attacks healthy tissue. Exposure to toxins, like pollution or industrial chemicals. Untreated acute inflammation, such as from an infection or injury.
The most common causes for inflammation
Diet: gluten, casein, processed foods, sugar and carbohydrates, industrial food, fast food and so forth. Drugs: corticosteroids, antibiotics, antacids etc. Stress: an increase in cortisol (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine)
Using the protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-CAMPs, we found evidence to suggest that cAMP signalling is involved in regulating the anti-inflammatory response. These findings suggest that antidepressants may owe at least some of their therapeutic effectiveness to their anti-inflammatory properties.
Not only is depression present in acute illness [4,5], but higher levels of inflammation appear to increase the risk for the development of de novo depression [6].
Practice makes perfect, at home or eating out
More good news: Making a few changes — like choosing whole grain breads instead of white bread, or adding a few fruit servings — can start making an immediate difference, though it may take up to six weeks for some people to see a significant change.
The four cardinal signs of inflammation—redness (Latin rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), and pain (dolor)—were described in the 1st century ad by the Roman medical writer Aulus Cornelius Celsus. Redness is caused by the dilation of small blood vessels in the area of injury.
Common painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen could help curb depression, a study has claimed. The research found anti-inflammatory agents could restrict major symptoms of depression such as low mood.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as cod, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements.