Public Lecture Series: The Link Between Inflammation and Depression

Nearly 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. experience major depression each year, making it one of the most common mental health disorders. For many people, the effects on day-to-day life are significant and disruptive. Although the emotional and psychological aspects of depression are well known, fewer people realize that biology also plays a role — and that biology also may lead to more effective ways to diagnose and treat severe depression. Van Andel Institute’s Dr. Lena Brundin will highlight the ways in which biological factors, specifically inflammation, contribute to depression and suicide risk — and detail how new research offers hope for improved care.

This lecture will discuss sensitive topics.

Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science

As a psychiatrist and a scientist, Dr. Lena Brundin seeks ways to diagnose and treat depression and suicidality by studying inflammation of the nervous system. Her findings may lead to earlier interventions for depressive patients and to development of a new class of antidepressants that targets the immune system. She also investigates how inflammatory mechanisms can damage nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease