A new study from Emory University has found that an anti-inflammatory drug may help improve motivation in people with depression.
The study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, focused on infliximab—a drug commonly used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis—and its effect on patients who have both depression and high levels of inflammation.
Lack of motivation is a common and difficult symptom of depression. It can make recovery harder and interfere with daily life. Scientists have been exploring the idea that inflammation in the body might affect the brain in ways that reduce motivation.
The research team studied 42 patients who were not taking other depression medications. All of them had high inflammation levels, measured using a blood test for C-reactive protein (CRP). A CRP level higher than 3 mg/L is considered a sign of inflammation.
The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group received a single dose of infliximab, and the other received a placebo (a harmless treatment with no real effect). The researchers followed the patients for two weeks.
They used several methods to measure motivation, including effort-based tasks that tested how hard patients were willing to work for a reward, questionnaires, and brain scans (fMRI). The results showed that people who received infliximab were more motivated and more willing to work for rewards than those who received the placebo.
The drug worked by blocking a molecule called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which plays a key role in inflammation. The researchers also found changes in brain activity in areas involved in motivation, like the prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum.
Dr. Michael Treadway, a professor at Emory University and the study’s lead author, said this is the first study to show that an anti-inflammatory drug can change brain circuits related to motivation. He believes the results offer new hope for people with depression, especially those who have low motivation.
Dr. Andrew Miller, a professor of psychiatry and co-author of the study, added that targeting inflammation could lead to more effective treatment options for people with depression who struggle with motivation.
This research opens up a new way to think about treating depression. Instead of focusing only on the brain, it suggests that treating inflammation in the body could also help improve mental health. The findings offer a promising direction for future treatments that could make a big difference in the lives of people with depression.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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