Recent research has found that depression may constitute a response to inflammation in the brain. Inflammation happens when you get a bruise or break a bone. Typically this involves your body’s white blood cells flushing into the affected area in order to protect it from infection or outside objects. Inflammation can occur in certain areas of the brain for a variety of reasons.
Recent research has suggested that depression could be caused in part by brain inflammation in certain areas. Researchers at multiple institutions have conducted increasing studies after noticing build up of inflammation around certain centers of the brain. This is part of multiple new discoveries about the biological aspects of depression.
This mechanism is thought to be helpful in an evolutionary sense because it cued responses like avoidance and alarm to threats. However, in our modern world it has the downside of contributing to avoidance of nonthreatening stimuli and depressive symptoms.
Investigation continues into the contribution of inflammatory responses to depression. Further research contributes to our understand of depression and may point to additional treatment targets to help fight it. Nothing wrong with that!
