New Research May Uncover an Alternative Cause of Depression

Depression is a common affliction, but trying to understand what causes it, much less what might relieve it, can lead down a lot of dead-end pathways. It’s easy to identify the symptoms―listlessness, sadness, lack of interest in things that customarily bring pleasure, difficulty in getting a decent night’s sleep, etc. Such symptoms usually add up to depression. But at the end of the day, if you don’t know what’s causing your depression, it’s difficult to figure out how to treat it. Any number of things may trigger depression―financial troubles, loss of a job, personal conflicts, and so on, but they may appear to have little in common. However, all produce stress, and stress, along with exposure to toxic chemicals or injury, can cause inflammation. Could chronic inflammation in the brain be the common factor that underlies many instances of depression? And might it offer a key to effective treatment? Read more…