Brain is invaded by immune cells due to prolonged stress, feeding depression.
New Study Sheds Light on Depression and Dementia Link
A groundbreaking study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge and published in the journal Nature Communications, may help explain the connection between depression and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke. The research, led by Stacey Kigar and her team, focused on the role of type I interferon signaling in the brain during chronic social defeat stress.
The study found that chronic social defeat stress causes an accumulation of neutrophils in the meninges, but not the brain, in male mice. Neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, become more rigid and potentially get stuck in brain capillaries during this stress, causing further inflammation in the brain. This inflammation could potentially be a key factor in the development of depression and other neurological disorders.
The researchers identified type I interferon signaling as a potential mediator of meningeal neutrophil recruitment. By blocking type I interferon signaling via the IFN-I receptor, they were able to protect against the negative behavioral effects of chronic social defeat stress. This suggests that targeting type I interferon signaling could be a promising avenue for future treatments for depression and related disorders.
Craig Brierley, an author of the article, emphasized the potential implications of the findings. "Our results suggest that chronic social defeat stress causes neutrophil accumulation in the meninges, which may contribute to the development of depression and other neurological disorders," he said. "Furthermore, our findings could provide a useful biomarker to help identify patients whose mood disorders are related to inflammation."
The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, Medical Research Council, and National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. The study may also explain why depression is itself a risk factor for dementia in later life, and why depression is a symptom common in other neurological disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
In conclusion, this new research provides valuable insights into the connection between depression and neurological disorders, and offers promising avenues for future treatments. By understanding the role of type I interferon signaling in the brain during chronic social defeat stress, we may be able to develop new and effective ways to treat depression and related disorders.
