Understanding the surprising connection between body and mind.
What’s the link between inflammation and mental health?
For years, scientists believed that inflammation—the body’s way of fighting illness and injury—was only a physical issue. But new research shows that inflammation in the body might also play a major role in mental health problems, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and even dementia. When your body is inflamed, your brain might be affected too. (1)
What is inflammation, exactly?
Inflammation is part of your body’s natural defense system. When you're sick or injured, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines to help heal. But when this process doesn’t turn off properly, called chronic inflammation, it can cause harm over time. Doctors can measure inflammation using blood tests that look at things like: C-reactive protein (CRP) White blood cell count Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-alpha These markers don’t just tell us what’s going on physically, they can also offer clues about our mental wellbeing. (2)
What have studies found?
Researchers have discovered that people with high levels of inflammation are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, including: Depression – higher CRP levels are linked to worse symptoms (3) Anxiety – chronic inflammation may go hand-in-hand with anxiety (4) Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia – low-grade inflammation is common and may impact thinking and functioning (5, 6) Dementia – long-term inflammation can raise your risk (7) Importantly, it’s a two-way street: mental health struggles can also raise inflammation levels, creating a cycle that's hard to break.
How does inflammation affect the brain?
Inflammation in the body can reach the brain, and can: Mess with important brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine Reduce neuroplasticity, making it harder to recover from stress Increase oxidative stress, which damages brain cells Your gut health matters too. An unhealthy gut (called dysbiosis) can trigger inflammation and send stress signals to the brain through the gut-brain connection. (8)
What does this mean for you?
Doctors are starting to recommend screening for inflammation in people who show signs of mental illness, especially if they already have autoimmune or chronic illnesses. Early warning signs could help catch problems before they worsen.
Treatment approaches
Lifestyle and nutritional
Diets rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients (omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin), regular physical activity, and adequate sleep have demonstrated efficacy in reducing both inflammation and psychiatric symptoms. (9, 10, 11)
Pharmacological
Trials of anti-inflammatory agents (e.g., NSAIDs, cytokine inhibitors) have shown modest benefits in treatment-resistant depression and schizophrenia, but results are mixed and require further validation. (12) Multidomain interventions that combine medical, psychological, and lifestyle strategies yield the best outcomes for supporting mental health and lowering inflammation. (13)
What’s next?
We’re still learning how inflammation fits into the mental health puzzle. Scientists need more studies to figure out: Why some people with mental illness have inflammation, and others don’t Which blood tests matter most How to create personalized treatments based on a person’s biology The goal is a future of precision psychiatry, where care is tailored not just to your symptoms, but also to your biology.
Final thoughts
Inflammation isn’t just about sore joints or a fever, it may be quietly shaping your mood, energy, and even your thoughts. While we don’t have all the answers yet, the science is clear: taking care of your body helps protect your mind. Eating well, moving your body, and getting good sleep might be more important for your mental health than you ever imagined.
References
Ferat-Osorio, E., Maldonado-García, J.L. and Pavón, L. (2024) ‘How inflammation influences psychiatric disease’, World Journal of Psychiatry, 14(3), pp. 342–349. doi:10.5498/wjp.v14.i3.342.
Menzel A, Samouda H, Dohet F, Loap S, Ellulu MS, Bohn T. Common and Novel Markers for Measuring Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Ex Vivo in Research and Clinical Practice-Which to Use Regarding Disease Outcomes? Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Mar 9;10(3):414. doi: 10.3390/antiox10030414. PMID: 33803155; PMCID: PMC8001241
Osimo EF, et al. Longitudinal population subgroups of CRP and risk of depression in the ALSPAC birth cohort. Compr Psychiatry. 2020;96:152143
Niles AN, et al. Gender differences in longitudinal relationships between depression and anxiety symptoms and inflammation in the health and retirement study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2018;95:149–57
Rosenblat JD, McIntyre RS. Bipolar Disorder and Immune Dysfunction: Epidemiological Findings, Proposed Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications. Brain Sci. 2017 Oct 30;7(11):144. doi: 10.3390/brainsci7110144. PMID: 29084144; PMCID: PMC5704151
Na KS, Jung HY, Kim YK. The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the neuroinflammation and neurogenesis of schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Jan 3;48:277-86. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.10.022. Epub 2012 Nov 1. PMID: 23123365
Schmidt R., Schmidt H., Curb J.D., Masaki K., White L.R., Launer L.J. Early inflammation and dementia: a 25-year follow-up of the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. Ann Neurol. 2002;52:168–174. doi: 10.1002/ana.10265
Almeida C, Oliveira R, Soares R, Barata P. Influence of gut microbiota dysbiosis on brain function: a systematic review. Porto Biomed J. 2020 Mar 17;5(2):1-8. doi: 10.1097/j.pbj.0000000000000059. PMID: 33299942; PMCID: PMC7722401
Tolkien K, Bradburn S, Murgatroyd C. An anti-inflammatory diet as a potential intervention for depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr. 2019 Oct;38(5):2045-2052. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.007. Epub 2018 Nov 20. PMID: 30502975
Ouabbou S, He Y, Butler K, Tsuang M. Inflammation in Mental Disorders: Is the Microbiota the Missing Link? Neurosci Bull. 2020 Sep;36(9):1071-1084. doi: 10.1007/s12264-020-00535-1. Epub 2020 Jun 27. PMID: 32592144; PMCID: PMC7475155
Hossain MN, Lee J, Choi H, Kwak YS, Kim J. The impact of exercise on depression: how moving makes your brain and body feel better. Phys Act Nutr. 2024 Jun;28(2):43-51. doi: 10.20463/pan.2024.0015. Epub 2024 Jun 30. PMID: 39097997; PMCID: PMC11298280
Du Y, Dou Y, Wang M, Wang Y, Yan Y, Fan H, Fan N, Yang X, Ma X. Efficacy and acceptability of anti-inflammatory agents in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry. 2024 May 28;15:1407529. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1407529. PMID: 38863604; PMCID: PMC11165078
Thornton LM, Andersen BL, Schuler TA, Carson WE 3rd. A psychological intervention reduces inflammatory markers by alleviating depressive symptoms: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Psychosom Med. 2009 Sep;71(7):715-24. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181b0545c. Epub 2009 Jul 21. PMID: 19622708; PMCID: PMC3832294
