Accumulating evidences suggested that peripheral inflammation potentially predispose mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety (e.g. Milaneschi et al., 2021; Pitharouli et al., 2021; Ye et al., 2021, also reviewed in Kalisch et al., 2024). One hypothesized pathway in which peripheral inflammation influence mental health status is by the transmission of peripheral inflammation signals to the brain via the blood brain barrier, particularly affecting the reward system (Kalisch et al., 2024). In the current study, we plan to utilize multi-modal, temporally rich, data from the UKBioBank to understand the interplay between stressor exposure and reactivity, peripheral inflammation, neural inflammation and mental health outcomes.
Primary objectives of the current investigation include:
– To replicate the associations between peripheral inflammation and mental health issues, with longitudinal analysis to establish potential causal linkage
– To examine the role of both an indirect metabolic marker of vascular leakage (e.g. Albumin) and direct quantification of blood brain barrier integrity using neuroimaging methods (Arterial spin labelling and perivascular space, with potential correlation with resting state functional connectivity) in mediating peripheral inflammation and mental health issues
– To examine protective factors, such as diet and the use of anti-inflammation medication, in alleviating the effect of peripheral inflammation on mental health issues
– To examine the above associations under the lens of stress resilience