The mind and chronic inflammation
Recent research has revealed that certain social, environmental and lifestyle factors, including psychological stress, can promote systemic chronic inflammation that can, in turn, lead to diseases that represent the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders [Furman et al., 2019]. The association between chronic disease and inflammation is widely recognized. Healthcare systems are buckling due to the cost of treating a worldwide population burdened by these chronic health problems.
Psychological stress also leads to inflammation in the brain. This can impact the regulation of mood and cognition, with possible connections to Alzheimer’s disease.
Psychological stress induces many of the same inflammatory signals as injury and disease. This raises questions: How and why does mental stress activate inflammation?
Related Posts
Are You Allergic?
Allergies are usually seen as simple immune system errors — an overreaction to harmless substances like pollen, dust, or certain foods. But what if an allergy is also about your mind, your emotions, and the way you interact with the world? From an AURELIS perspective, allergies may be more than just physical reactions. They can Read the full article…
Can Stress Cause MS?
MS = Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder that specifically affects the brain and spinal cord. Its symptoms and prognosis are pretty diverse, making causal research challenging but not impossible. According to the National MS Society, almost one million people are living with MS in the United States. Most are diagnosed between the ages of 20 Read the full article…
Rheumatic Arthritis and the Mind
Rheumatoid arthritis lives in the body — and in the mind that lives with that body. This blog brings together recent evidence on how mood, stress, expectation, and coping shape RA risk, symptoms, and outcomes ― then suggests practical next steps that fit standard care. The aim is synergy: inside-out work complementing outside-in treatment. Opening Read the full article…