Swelling. Redness. A wave of white blood cells rushing to the scene. Most people recognize what inflammation looks like. Fewer could explain why the same response meant to protect the body could become a risk to the mind as well. Here’s a primer on how inflammation works, and why it matters beyond infection and injury. […]
When the Brain’s “Construction Crew” Wreaks Havoc
How does the brain respond to chronic inflammation? When immune cells show up in the brain, are they the problem, or are they trying to fix one? In this video, Jonathan Kipnis, PhD, a neuroscientist and immunologist, shares a simple analogy to explain neuroinflammation and what it’s actually trying to do. Take a look: it’s […]
[Infographic] The Brain-Gut Microbiotic Axis
For years, we’d drawn a quiet line between what belongs to mental health and what belongs to physical health. But science keeps uncovering just how connected they really are. Take for example the interconnections between the brain and the gut. Top researchers are now looking more deeply into the body’s interconnected signaling pathways and how […]
CBT, Mindfulness, and the Microbiome
We often think of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a tool for changing thoughts. But according to Kirsten Tillisch, MD, it also appears to be changing something you might not expect: The gut microbiome. In this video, Kirsten explains what happened when CBT was applied to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) . . . . . […]
Could a Ketogenic Diet Improve Psychiatric Symptoms? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Researchers at the intersection of metabolic and mental health are studying the benefits of different dietary interventions. One of the diets that’s being studied very closely is the ketogenic diet. Samantha V. Abram, PhD, and a team of researchers at the University of California San Francisco’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences developed a randomized, […]