We all have some kind of infection going on during our lifetime. Major and minor infections are causing inflammation. Inflammation is the way the body reacts to damage and stress. Think about the redness and swelling that occurs with an injury or infection. The inflammation is due to a pathway that recruits cells to the area that can clean up and repair any damaged cells and tissue. Inflammation is a defensive mechanism that usually leads to a healing process. However, with persistent inflammation or chronic damage caused by stress, high blood pressure etc., these defensive mechanisms can become overactive and lead to damage. There are many reasons why a person may have persistent or excessive inflammation, including chronic pain, gut inflammation, allergies, sleep deprivation, obesity, smoking, poor diet, alcohol, stress, autoimmune disorders, infections and toxin exposure.
Inflammation protects and heals the body via activation of the immune system, the body’s natural defense system. However, persistent inflammation in the body leads to constant immune activation. Stress, pain, infection and chronic disease put the body in a proinflammatory state. In this state, the immune system becomes primed and ready to create the inflammatory response. When this happens, the body activates proteins that travel through the blood to fight the cause of inflammation. These proteins, if active for too long, can continue to travel through the blood until they ultimately reach the brain. There is something called a blood-brain barrier, which keeps the two separate and protects the delicate environment of the brain. It lets essential nutrients in, blocks out harmful substances and limits the entry, but these proteins can go through the blood-brain barrier and into the brain. Once in the brain, they can lead to changes that affect how the brain functions. If these changes persist over time, they can lead to cognitive decline.
Cognitive decline can manifest as problems with memory, thinking, speech and information processing. Dementia, a condition in which nerve cells in the brain deteriorate, is strongly associated with cognitive decline. One of the major potential causes of dementia is inflammation. There are special cells in the brain called microglia, which, when activated, trigger the release of inflammatory molecules in order to preserve the environment in which the microglia exist. This is the natural protective and defensive mechanism of these cells. Oftentimes, however, these microglia produce a prolonged inflammatory response that can promote neurodegeneration, or the deterioration of brain cells. Extensive research has shown that microglial cell activation leads to amyloid plaque formation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles—the two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Some inflammation is not only good for the body, but necessary. However, uncontrolled inflammation leads to changes in the brain that can affect our memory, thinking and speech. Inflammation comes from many places—infection; lifestyle habits such as smoking, inactivity, alcohol; and unavoidable things like pain and stress. Nevertheless, all of these can be acted upon. Infections can be identified and treated, we can help you cut down or altogether stop drinking or smoking, we can manage pain and identify ways to minimize stress. We can help you take action that reduces inflammation and maximizes brain health. Visit MemoryCenter.Org, or call us at 201-947-4777 for more information today.
Dr. Jeff Shenfeld is the director of the Memory Center of Englewood.
