Anxiety & Depression
New Findings Regarding Brain Inflammation
Traditional treatment for chronic depression typically involves medications that impact brain neurotransmitters — brain chemicals responsible for mood, motivation, behavior, and mental activity.
“Many patients with depression do not respond well to pharmaceutical treatment or even natural remedies. ”
While the conventional medical model insists on sticking with these minimally successful approaches, a new model of depression has emerged in recent years. We now understand that these symptoms can arise years, even decades after a brain-trauma event. Contact sports, car accidents and trauma suffered on the field of battle – any of these may be the root cause.
1. Brain Inflammation Slows Down Conduction Between Neurons
When the brain becomes inflamed several key things happen. First, inflammation slows down conduction between nerves. When the frequency of firing (communication between neurons) decreases in the frontal lobe and limbic lobe, this can lead to depression.
2. Brain Inflammation Impacts the Synthesis of Key Neurotransmitters
We also know brain inflammation disrupts transport carrier proteins. These proteins are necessary for carrying the precursors (building blocks) for dopamine and serotonin production into the brain.
3. What is dopamine? Dopamine is called the pleasure and reward neurotransmitter. Symptoms of poor dopamine activity include:
Inability to handle stress
Inability to self-motivate
Inability to start or finish tasks
Feelings of worthlessness
Feelings of hopelessness
Short temper over minor upsets
Isolating oneself from others
Unexplained lack of concern for family and friends
4. What is Serotonin? Serotonin is considered the joy and well-being neurotransmitter. Symptoms of poor serotonin activity include:
Feelings of depression
Feelings of inner rage and anger
Difficulty finding joy from life’s pleasures and favorite activities
Depression when it is cloudy or when there is lack of sunlight
Not enjoying friendships and relationships
Not enjoying favorite foods
Unable to fall into deep restful sleep
As dopamine levels drop, people lose their motivation and drive. As serotonin goes down, people lose their mood, sense of happiness, and satisfaction with things they used to love.
“Attempting to affect neurotransmitter levels with traditional treatments really has no effect because they do not address neuroinflammation.”
5. Neuroinflammation Impacts Receptor Sites for Neurotransmitters
A third key link between neuroinflammation and depression involves out of control microglial (glial) cells.
Microglia cells are the brain’s immune cells. They are in charge of facilitating healthy neuronal function, reacting to foreign invaders, and cleaning up plaque and debris.
However, unlike the immune system in the rest of the body, glial cells don’t have a well-regulated off-switch. When over-activated, glial cells create an all-out assault on antigens that enter the brain, but they don’t necessarily turn off afterward. This is what creates chronic brain inflammation.
You can now see why so many patients don’t respond to conventional treatments that target neurotransmitter levels. When the brain is in a state of chronic inflammation, adding neurotransmitters or attempting to change how they function only covers one small part of a larger field of possible breakdowns.
Overcoming this inflammation is possible with close monitoring of lifestyle, environment, diet and activity. You need an informed and trained medical professional. It can be conquered.
Excerpted: Author – Datis Kharrazian, published in The Kharrazian Institute’s Blog
See the original article Photo credit: Ethan Sykes