Brain inflammation

Depression discoveries show potential for other brain illnesses

In the quest to better understand the biology of brain-based illnesses, scientists at CAMH and around the globe are actively investigating the role of inflammation in the brain. Brain imaging is an important approach in this pursuit. As one of the world’s leading brain imaging centres, CAMH has a successful track record in developing sophisticated chemical probes, known as radiotracers, that attach to specific brain targets and “light up” in scans to signal brain activity. Radiotracers can be used to yield insights to establish a biological diagnosis or to develop more targeted treatments.

Using a CAMH-developed probe, Dr. Jeffrey Meyer has had impact in achieving both of these goals. He has shown the first evidence of inflammation in the brains of people with clinical depression, using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. A blood test is now in development that would indicate which patients have brain inflammation. And clinical trials are underway to test whether anti-inflammatory medications such as minocycline and celecoxib can reduce depressive symptoms.

These advances in depression research also point to the potential for new insights into other illnesses. A new generation of radiotracers is being investigated at CAMH to study harmful inflammation in other brain-based conditions, such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and brain injury, says Dr. Neil Vasdev. Inflammation activates different brain cells such as microglia, which in turn sets off a series of reactions involving various enzymes and proteins, some of which are promising new targets. “Continuing the development of these radiotracers can enable early diagnosis, allow us to track the progress of disease, and help us to understand patient responses to treatment,” says Dr. Vasdev.