New research suggests a link between inflammation and mental health, with studies indicating that anti-inflammatory drugs may improve mood. Inflammation is the body's immune response to injury or infection, but can also arise from illnesses, obesity, or ageing.
Professor Daniel M Davis, head of life sciences at Imperial College London, notes that elevated cytokines in the blood are a marker of inflammation. These molecules are used by immune cells to communicate, and some types can affect the brain, influencing how a person feels.
Studies on patients with rheumatoid arthritis have shown that cytokine-blocking anti-inflammatory drugs can improve mood, possibly by altering brain activity. Further research found that children with higher levels of the cytokine IL-6 at age nine were more likely to experience depression at 18. Another study observed a correlation between immune-related diseases and prior diagnoses of psychiatric disorders in adults.
Despite these findings, scientists currently lack sufficient understanding to use this knowledge for treating conditions such as depression or anxiety. Prof Davis stated that while evidence points to an overlap between immune and mental health, more research is needed to determine who could benefit and which part of the immune system could be safely targeted.