The Inflamed Mind

Résumé du livre

Edward Bullmore is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist and mental health expert from the UK. He studied medicine at the University of Oxford and is now a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. Since 2005, he has been working for pharma company GlaxoSmithKline on developing new anti-inflammatory drugs for depression.

Feeling low during a severe cold is a natural response, as the immune system triggers inflammation to fight the virus, with mood improving once the inflammation subsides. Emerging research suggests this connection between inflammation and mood extends beyond temporary illness, potentially linking chronic inflammation to long-term depression. For example, the rheumatoid arthritis drug Remicade not only alleviated physical symptoms but also unexpectedly improved mood, highlighting the relationship between reduced inflammation and emotional well-being. Historical studies, once overshadowed by the serotonin theory, have since paved the way for fields like neuroimmunology and immunopsychiatry, showing that inflammation often precedes depression. This connection is further supported by studies on vaccination and stress, which reveal how inflammatory responses can influence mood and behavior. Evolutionary theories suggest that inflammation and depression once served survival purposes, aiding recovery and protecting groups from disease spread, though these traits may now be maladaptive. Modern discoveries challenge earlier beliefs about the brain’s isolation from the immune system, revealing how inflammation in the body can affect the brain via mechanisms like the vagus nerve and inflammatory cytokines, which disrupt neurotransmitter function and may explain why some patients don’t respond to antidepressants. While antidepressants like Prozac emerged from serendipitous discoveries and target neurotransmitter imbalances, the lack of definitive evidence for the serotonin theory underscores the need for deeper exploration into depression’s roots, particularly its ties to inflammation.

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