Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people around the world. While sadness and low mood are often talked about, another common and very challenging symptom is low motivation.
People with depression may find it extremely hard to start tasks, make decisions, or put effort into activities, even when they know these activities could help them feel better. This lack of motivation can slow recovery and make daily life feel overwhelming.
In recent years, scientists have begun to explore a new idea: depression may not only be a disorder of the mind, but also one that involves the body. In particular, many studies have shown that some people with depression have higher levels of inflammation in their bodies.
Inflammation is part of the immune system’s natural response to injury or illness, but when it stays high for a long time, it can harm physical and mental health.
A new study from Emory University has taken a closer look at how inflammation may affect motivation in people with depression. The researchers tested whether an anti-inflammatory drug could improve motivation by calming inflammation and changing how certain brain circuits work.
The study focused on a drug called infliximab. This medication is already used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. It works by blocking a substance in the body called tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, which plays a major role in inflammation.
Scientists wanted to know whether blocking TNF could also help improve motivation in people with depression who show signs of high inflammation.
To answer this question, the researchers recruited 42 adults who had depression but were not taking antidepressant medications at the time of the study. All participants had high levels of inflammation, measured by a blood marker called C-reactive protein, or CRP. A CRP level above 3 milligrams per liter is considered a sign of increased inflammation in the body.
The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group received a single dose of infliximab, while the other group received a placebo, which is a harmless substance with no active effect. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received the real drug until the study was finished. After treatment, the participants were followed closely for two weeks.
During this time, the researchers measured motivation in several different ways. Participants completed tasks that tested how much effort they were willing to put in to earn rewards, filled out questionnaires about their motivation and mood, and underwent brain scans that showed activity in different areas of the brain.
The results were striking. People who received infliximab showed higher motivation than those who received the placebo. They were more willing to work harder for rewards and showed improvements on motivation-related questionnaires. These changes were not simply about feeling happier; they reflected a real increase in the drive to take action.
Brain scans also showed important differences. Participants who received the anti-inflammatory drug had changes in brain areas involved in motivation and decision-making, including the prefrontal cortex and the ventral striatum. These regions help the brain evaluate rewards, plan actions, and decide whether effort is worth the outcome.
The lead researcher explained that this is the first study to clearly show that reducing inflammation can directly affect brain circuits related to motivation in depression. This finding is important because motivation problems are often difficult to treat with standard antidepressants.
The study suggests that for some people with depression, especially those with high inflammation, targeting the immune system may open the door to new and more effective treatments. While this research is still in its early stages and larger studies are needed, it offers new hope for people who struggle with motivation and feel stuck in their recovery.
By looking beyond the brain alone and considering the role of inflammation in the body, scientists are beginning to understand depression in a more complete way. This approach could lead to more personalized treatments and better outcomes for many patients in the future.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
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