Brain Inflammation: Symptoms, Causes, How to Reduce It
Chronic brain inflammation is linked to depression and other cognitive and mental health problems. Specific anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes can help.
Inflammation is the body’s first line of defense against infection and injury.
This process normally shuts down after healing is complete.
But trouble starts when the inflammation process gets stuck “on” and doesn’t know how to stop.
Then, inflammation can become hostile to the body — attacking healthy cells, blood vessels, and tissues instead of protecting them.
This is called chronic or systemic inflammation.
You can develop chronic inflammation anywhere in the body, including the brain.
Unlike the inflammation of an injury or arthritis, brain inflammation doesn’t cause pain since the brain has no pain receptors.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not there, causing hidden damage to your most vital organ.
Symptoms of Chronic Brain Inflammation
While acute inflammation is triggered by injury or pathogens, chronic inflammation is largely caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits that continue to fuel the inflammation response long after it stops being helpful.
Chronic inflammation can lead to all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems, including allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, colitis, dermatitis, sinusitis, arthritis, and any other health conditions that end in “itis.”
Chronic inflammation is not innocuous — it’s been dubbed “a silent killer” because it’s a major cause of death and disease.
Inflammation plays a role in at least 8 of the top 10 leading causes of death.
If chronic inflammation establishes itself in the brain, it leads to measurable brain shrinkage, especially in the areas associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the 7th leading cause of death.
Chronic brain inflammation shuts down energy production in brain cells, leading to mental fatigue, brain fog, and memory loss.
Chronic brain inflammation is linked to depression and other cognitive and mental health problems. Specific anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes can help.
Inflammation is the body’s first line of defense against infection and injury.
This process normally shuts down after healing is complete.
But trouble starts when the inflammation process gets stuck “on” and doesn’t know how to stop.
Then, inflammation can become hostile to the body — attacking healthy cells, blood vessels, and tissues instead of protecting them.
This is called chronic or systemic inflammation.
You can develop chronic inflammation anywhere in the body, including the brain.
Unlike the inflammation of an injury or arthritis, brain inflammation doesn’t cause pain since the brain has no pain receptors.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not there, causing hidden damage to your most vital organ.
Symptoms of Chronic Brain Inflammation
While acute inflammation is triggered by injury or pathogens, chronic inflammation is largely caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits that continue to fuel the inflammation response long after it stops being helpful.
Chronic inflammation can lead to all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems, including allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, colitis, dermatitis, sinusitis, arthritis, and any other health conditions that end in “itis.”
Chronic inflammation is not innocuous — it’s been dubbed “a silent killer” because it’s a major cause of death and disease.
Inflammation plays a role in at least 8 of the top 10 leading causes of death.
If chronic inflammation establishes itself in the brain, it leads to measurable brain shrinkage, especially in the areas associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the 7th leading cause of death.
Chronic brain inflammation shuts down energy production in brain cells, leading to mental fatigue, brain fog, and memory loss.
Encephalitis: Acute Inflammation of the Brain
Encephalitis is a rare form of acute brain inflammation that is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
Symptoms come on suddenly and can include fever, headache, seizures, stiff neck and back, and mental confusion.
Encephalitis can be quite serious and, in extreme cases, can cause brain damage and even death.
If you experience the symptoms of acute brain inflammation, contact your health care provider immediately!
(Note that, throughout the rest of this article, we discuss chronic rather than acute brain inflammation.)
Brain Inflammation: A Surprising Cause of Depression
The medical community largely presumes that depression is caused by low levels of so-called feel-good brain chemicals, usually serotonin and sometimes dopamine.
But this is only a theory — albeit a very widely held one.
Millions of people have been prescribed antidepressants based on this brain chemical imbalance theory of depression.
However, these drugs work for less than half of those who take them, making them no more effective than a placebo.
And now, there’s a growing body of evidence that chronic brain inflammation is an underlying cause of depression.
This is called the cytokine hypothesis of depression.
This theory is not new, but it’s been overshadowed by the chemical imbalance theory of depression.
Cytokines are immune system messengers.
Some cytokines down-regulate inflammation while others increase it.
It’s been known for years that inflammatory cytokines activate inflammation in the brain, destroying tissue and altering brain function.
Cytokine production contributes to:
- anorexia
- anxiety disorders
- bipolar disorder
- depression
- schizophrenia
- severe lethargy
- slowed responses
- suicidality
It’s always been assumed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most popular type of antidepressant medications, work by increasing serotonin levels.
But now there’s evidence that they may be anti-inflammatory.
Ironically, it may be their anti-inflammatory properties — and not their ability to increase serotonin — that’s the real reason these drugs work.
How the Brain’s Immune System Triggers Inflammation
It’s a little-known fact that the brain has its own immune system.
Microglia, immune cells in the brain, are the central nervous system’s first and main line of defense.
Their job is to protect the brain and spinal cord from pathogens and to clear away metabolic debris, such as the beta-amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
Natural Antidepressants: Proven, Drug-Free (evidence-based guide)
At least 50% of the cells in the brain are microglia cells, indicating just how important they are.
Once a microglia cell is activated, it creates inflammation for the rest of its lifespan.
These cells have no “off” switch.
Additionally, they cause a domino effect of further inflammation by stimulating other microglia to become active.
Root Causes of Brain Inflammation
According to Harvard researcher Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DHSc, author of Why Isn’t My Brain Working?, a compromised blood-brain barrier is one of the greatest risk factors for brain inflammation.
The blood-brain barrier is a finely woven mesh of specialized cells and blood vessels that seek to keep foreign substances out of the brain.
But this barrier can become damaged, making it permeable or “leaky.”
This allows toxins and pathogens to enter the brain, which in turn activates the microglia to produce inflammation.
This barrier permeability also allows inflammation that originates elsewhere in the body to enter the brain and start the inflammation response there.
According to Dr. Kharrazian, the risk factors that can activate microglia to produce brain inflammation include:
- asthma
- chronic stress
- compromised blood-brain barrier
- diabetes
- digestive disorders
- dysbiosis
- environmental toxins
- gluten intolerance
- head trauma
- heart disease
- high carbohydrate diet
- sedentary lifestyle
- substance abuse
- systemic inflammation
- vitamin B deficiency
How to Control Brain Inflammation With Food
Chronic inflammation is not an all-or-nothing state, but a continuum.
You won’t be able to get rid of all inflammation, nor should you even try since some inflammatory activity is essential for health.
But you do want to minimize inflammation once it’s gotten out of control and its effects have become counterproductive.
The foods you eat can either increase or decrease inflammation.
Here’s how to eat more anti-inflammatory foods and minimize pro-inflammatory ones.
Follow the Anti-Inflammatory Mediterranean Diet
If you want to reduce chronic inflammation, you can’t go wrong following a Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean way of eating is widely considered the healthiest of all, in part because it’s high in flavonoids, anti-inflammatory compounds found in plants.
[The MIND Diet, a variation of the Mediterranean diet, may be the best diet of all for brain health.]
Fortunately, adding more flavonoids to your diet is not a hardship.
They are found in abundance in some of the world’s favorite foods and beverages, such as chocolate, berries, tea, coffee, and red wine.
Andrew Weil, MD, a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, has created this anti-inflammatory food pyramid to visualize what to eat to reduce chronic inflammation.
Emphasize Anti-Inflammatory Oils
Two of the simplest dietary changes you can make are:
- increasing foods that contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs)
- reducing foods that contain pro-inflammatory omega-6 EFAs
The best sources of omega-3s are cold-water, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines.
Omega-3s are the main reason that fish are considered a top “brain food.”
Stick with eating wild-caught fish rather than farm-raised.
Farm-raised salmon contains more pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats and more contaminants.
Also choose grass-fed and pasture-fed meat, poultry, and eggs over grain-fed since these contain more omega-3 fats and fewer inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids than their mass-produced counterparts.
The primary dietary sources of omega-6s are vegetable oils such as canola, soy, corn, and safflower oil.
These oils are ubiquitous in processed foods, baked goods, and snack items, even those from health food stores.
When preparing food at home, use extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil which contain anti-inflammatory compounds.
Minimize Processed Carbohydrates
The naturally occurring carbohydrates found in fruits and vegetables are not a problem and these foods contain many compounds known to be anti-inflammatory.
But the same can’t be said of white sugar and wheat flour which have been stripped of nutrients.
White sugar consumption not only increases brain inflammation, but also interferes with brain cell communication, slows thinking, and eventually causes damage and death to brain cells.
Chronic high blood glucose levels are linked to Alzheimer’s disease which some experts believe is type 3 diabetes, a form of diabetes of the brain.
Mind Your Wheat Consumption
Wheat products in your diet may harm your brain in a couple of ways.
If you are among the millions with gluten sensitivity, eliminating wheat is essential to reduce inflammation in both your gut and your brain.
Gluten contributes to inflammation by increasing intestinal permeability and initiating a pro-inflammatory immune response.
But even if you think you have no problem with gluten, you should still consider minimizing wheat consumption.
The glycemic index score of wheat, even whole wheat, is quite high.
Surprisingly, eating a breakfast or snack of whole wheat bread can raise your blood sugar as much as eating a Snickers candy bar!
Drink Green Tea and Red Wine
All true teas (Camellia sinensis) are anti-inflammatory, but green tea is a standout because it’s highest in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a unique anti-inflammatory compound.
Additionally, EGCG readily passes through the blood-brain barrier to protect brain cells from damage and stimulate the formation of new brain cells.
Red wine consumed in moderation is an important part of the Mediterranean diet.
Red wine is protective against chronic inflammation, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Its health benefits are largely attributed to resveratrol, a polyphenol that shows promise for promoting heart health, brain health, and longevity.
If you don’t drink wine, there are many other good sources of resveratrol, including grapes, berries, pistachios, peanuts, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate.
Uses Herbs and Spices Liberally
Virtually all herbs and spices are anti-inflammatory, so be sure to include plenty of them in your diet.
Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, and rosemary are among the best for improving brain health and function.
Supplements That Reduce Brain Inflammation
You may be able to turn the tide of chronic inflammation with diet alone, but there are some natural anti-inflammatory supplements that can help jumpstart and speed up your efforts.
All supplements mentioned here have a dual purpose: they are both anti-inflammatory and offer significant brain-boosting properties as well.
Fish Oil
The Fish oil is one of the most popular supplements for reducing inflammation due to its high omega-3 fat content.
Fish oil supplementation has an impressive record for improving brain health and function of all kinds, including mood, cognition, and mental well-being.
Curcumin
Curcumin is a compound mainly found in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa).
Studies have found that it works as well as Prozac, making it a natural antidepressant.
Besides being anti-inflammatory, curcumin has natural antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-cancer properties.
Acetyl l-Carnitine
Acetyl l-carnitine is an anti-inflammatory amino acid supplement that is a more bioavailable form of l-carnitine.
It has strong anti-aging effects on the brain and can improve mental clarity, alertness, processing speed, focus, mood, and memory.
Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine, derived from the periwinkle plant (Vinca minor), exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
It increases blood flow to the brain and balances neurotransmitters to improve memory, overcome brain fog, increase mental clarity, and protect the brain from aging.
Asian Ginseng
For thousands of years, Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), an ancient herb, has been used to increase physical stamina, improve mood, enhance libido, and promote longevity.
It’s also useful for treating both anxiety and depression.
One of the ways it works is by reducing inflammatory cytokines.
Bacopa
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) is a foundational herbal remedy in the ancient healing traditions of both China and India.
It’s highly prized as a brain tonic that reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mental energy and clarity, and wards off brain aging by calming chronic inflammation.
Magnesium
Even in healthy diets, magnesium is often lacking despite being an essential mineral required in over 600 metabolic functions.
people highly esteem the supplement for its natural anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties.
In humans, low magnesium levels correlate with high levels of pro-inflammatory markers.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Most people prefer to consume lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) as a supplement rather than finding it in a market and eating it.
Of the 70 bioactive compounds found in lion’s mane, one in particular, amycenone, is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse.
A single dose of amycenone significantly reduces pro-inflammatory proteins.
Researchers believe amycenone is also responsible for lion’s mane’s antidepressant properties.
Magnolia Bark
Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis) is a traditional Chinese herb that’s helpful for stress relief, anxiety, and depression.
It protects the brain from inflammation and oxidation.
Magnolia bark is a supplement to consider if you have reason to believe that you are low in the neurotransmitter dopamine.
It increases blood flow to the brain and balances neurotransmitters to improve memory, overcome brain fog, increase mental clarity, and protect the brain from aging.
Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is an ancient herb that people have used for thousands of years to increase physical stamina, improve mood, enhance libido, and promote longevity.
It’s also useful for treating both anxiety and depression.
One of the ways it works is by reducing inflammatory cytokines.
Bacopa
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) is a foundational herbal remedy in the ancient healing traditions of both China and India.
Many people highly prize it as a brain tonic that reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mental energy and clarity, and wards off brain aging by calming chronic inflammation.
Magnesium
Even in healthy diets, people often lack magnesium, despite its status as an essential mineral needed for over 600 metabolic functions.
Many people highly regard the natural supplement for its anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties.
Low magnesium levels in humans correlate with high levels of pro-inflammatory markers.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
People often consume lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) as a supplement, although it is available in some markets.
Of the 70 bioactive compounds found in lion’s mane, one in particular, amycenone, is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse.
A single dose of amycenone significantly reduces pro-inflammatory proteins.
Researchers attribute lion’s mane’s antidepressant properties to amycenone.
Magnolia Bark
Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis) is a traditional Chinese herb that’s helpful for stress relief, anxiety, and depression.
It protects the brain from inflammation and oxidation.
Magnolia bark is a supplement to consider if you have reason to believe that you are low in the neurotransmitter dopamine.
How to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve for Mind-Body Health
One of its many functions is to act as an on-off switch for inflammation.
You can strengthen the function of your vagus nerve with various mind-body activities such as singing, meditation, yoga, prayer, and cold showers.
Cultivate Awe (really!)
And finally, bring more awe into your life.
Experiencing awe reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Let the beauty of nature, the creation of art, or any other source that inspires a sense of connection and wonder within you amaze you.
Recommended: Upgrading brain health is key to making your brain work better.
Brain supplement help you:
- Improve your mental clarity and focus.
- Boost your memory and your ability to learn.
- Increase your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
P.S. Like what you’ve read on this page? Get more like this — Sign up for our emails.
Also read our blog on Phenylalanine
