Neuroinflammation Source: peterschreiber/iStock When we think of depression, we often hear about chemical imbalances in the brain involving molecules like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. But there’s a growing body of research suggesting that inflammation, which is the body’s natural immune response to stress, infection, or injury, could play a key role in the development of depression. This novel idea is called the neuroinflammation model of depression, and it may explain why depression can feel so physically exhausting and mentally debilitating. What Is Neuroinflammation? Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism. When you have an injury, suffer a trauma, or develop an infection, your immune system releases chemicals called cytokines to fight off the problem. However, inflammation doesn’t always stay where it belongs. In neuroinflammation, these inflammatory chemicals cross into the brain and cause trouble, leading to symptoms like low mood, fatigue, and brain fog, which are classic symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). Traditionally, depression has been linked to deficiencies in brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, but scientists are now finding that chronic inflammation might …