Persistent inflammation affects the brain in ways that are connected with stubborn symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia.
Adam Rifkin stashed this in Brain
Stashed in: Science!, Awesome, Marijuana, Depression, Depression, Inflammation, Inflammation
Inflammation is linked to weakened reward circuits in depression:
About one third of people with depression have high levels of inflammation markers in their blood. New research indicates that persistent inflammation affects the brain in ways that are connected with stubborn symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure.
The results were published online on Nov. 10 in Molecular Psychiatry.
The findings bolster the case that the high-inflammation form of depression is distinct, and are guiding researchers' plans to test treatments tailored for it.
Anhedonia is a core symptom of depression that is particularly difficult to treat, says lead author Jennifer Felger, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute.
"Some patients taking antidepressants continue to suffer from anhedonia," Felger says. "Our data suggest that by blocking inflammation or its effects on the brain, we may be able to reverse anhedonia and help depressed individuals who fail to respond to antidepressants."
800 Reddit comments discuss how to lower these markers:
https://reddit.com/r/science/comments/3tmm6x/about_one_third_of_people_with_depression_have/
The problem with Reddit is that you can easily scroll down a LONG WAY before you see the slightest thing to do with inflammation. Also they are such dweebs that they never even mentioned medical marijuana because they were too busy talking about their various neuro-related degrees.
Good point. Have there been any good studies about medicinal marijuana reducing inflammation?
10:59 PM Nov 26 2015