Anxiety isn't just in your head. Immune molecules like IL-17 and IL-10 act as neurotransmitters in brain regions that control anxiety, binding to receptors that amplify or calm fearful feelings. Diet, exercise, and stress reduction can shift these molecules, offering a direct path to rewire anxiety through inflammation.
What causes anxiety? Hello, I'm Anxiety. Obviously, the answer is many things, but an underappreciated truth is that behavior states and emotions, including anxiety, can be the consequence of a metabolic state. Inflammatory molecules, IL-17, and anti-inflammatory molecules, IL-10, signal as neurotransmitters in the brain. They bind to receptors in the anxiety center, tuning anxiety up, inflammation, or down, anti-inflammation. This has real-life practical consequences. It implies that altering levels of these inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules through lifestyle or through innovative future medications, we could directly influence brain activity and mood states.
