Many people with depression struggle with a deep lack of motivation. This lack of drive can make it hard to do everyday tasks, enjoy life, or even get help.
But now, scientists may have found a new way to help – by using a common drug that fights inflammation.
Researchers at Emory University have discovered that a drug called infliximab might improve motivation in people with depression, especially those with high levels of inflammation in their bodies.
Infliximab is not a new drug. It’s already used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease because it blocks an inflammatory chemical in the body called tumor necrosis factor, or TNF.
In this study, the researchers wanted to find out if reducing inflammation could also help people feel more motivated. This is important because low motivation is one of the hardest parts of depression to treat, and it often leads to poor results, lower quality of life, and even higher risks of suicide.
In recent years, scientists have begun to believe that inflammation might affect the brain in ways that reduce motivation. This study is the first to look at whether infliximab can directly improve motivation and change brain activity in people with depression.
The study involved 42 adults who had depression and also had high levels of inflammation, as shown by a blood test called CRP (C-reactive protein). All of them had CRP levels over 3, which suggests the body is fighting some kind of inflammation.
The researchers randomly gave some people a single dose of infliximab and others a placebo (a fake treatment). They then followed the patients for two weeks to see what changed.
To measure motivation, the team used several methods. They asked the patients to fill out surveys about how they were feeling. They also gave them tasks to test how much effort they were willing to use to win rewards. Brain scans (fMRI) were used to see which parts of the brain were more or less active during these tasks.
The results were promising. People who got infliximab were more willing to work for rewards than those who got the placebo.
Their brain scans also showed more activity in key areas linked to motivation, such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and the ventral striatum. These parts of the brain help us feel interested in goals and push ourselves to take action.
Even more interesting, the study showed that the improvement in motivation was closely tied to a drop in inflammation, especially TNF activity. Infliximab seemed to help the brain’s motivation system work better.
Dr. Michael Treadway, the lead researcher, said this was the first time scientists could see how an anti-inflammatory drug affects the brain’s motivation circuits in depressed people. He said it was exciting to find a way to help with such a difficult symptom.
Dr. Andrew Miller, another researcher on the team, explained that treating the root cause – inflammation – could offer better long-term help for patients.
This research gives hope to people who haven’t gotten better with standard depression treatments. While more studies are needed to see how long the effects last and how best to use this treatment, it’s a big step forward in understanding how inflammation and depression are connected.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
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