Parents generally want to spare their children the effects of prolonged inflammation now and in the future, but too many are unaware of how important that could be for their child’s mental health. We live in an age of inflammatory diseases and effects. Beyond the natural toxicities of a fallen world such as venomous snakes and toxic plants in the woods which we can usually avoid, there are far more “invisible” toxins in the air, in our water, in our foods, and in the products we use daily. When inflammation results from these toxins and from infections we regularly face, we feel the effects in various ways. Research now suggests that ongoing inflammation in children may predispose them to future mental health conditions.
We all face inflammation from toxic and infectious exposures on a daily basis. God designed our bodies to handle this inflammation through both our immune system and other organ systems. This works well to a point, but when that burden of inflammatory triggers is too high, the heat does not die down to normal between exposures. While some inflammation helps clear out the bad stuff in the short run, ongoing and unremitting inflammation, even low grade, can have long term effects.
In this study, researchers in England monitored a cross section of over 6000 children, about ½ boys and ½ girls, over many years to see if higher inflammation in childhood would influence mental health outcomes in adulthood. They assessed at age 24 years for psychotic disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, hypomania, and also for insulin resistance as a metabolic marker. In doing so, they divided the groups into groups based on when their blood’s persistently high C Reactive Protein levels (a widely accepted marker of systemic inflammation) peaked, separating those who peaked at age 9 years from those who peaked at age 17 years, as well as those who did not show inflammation at either time.
The children who had elevated CRP marker of inflammation peaking at age 9 years were found to have a higher rate of psychosis and depression diagnoses at age 24 years. Those who only had inflammation by CRP at age 17 years did not show an increase in these diagnoses. Other studies cited in the article also found similar connections between inflammation and these diagnoses but looked at single time points for inflammation measurement. This present student suggests that the effects of inflammation are greater earlier in life (by comparing age 9 years to age 17 years).
The researchers did not dig into potential mechanisms nor what we should do with this information, but I offer some thoughts beyond their hope for more research to be done (a hope I share wholeheartedly). There should be no doubt that we should be working at lowering inflammation as much as possible for ourselves and our children. Countless studies indicate persistently high levels play a role in cancer health, cardiometabolic health, brain health in all ages, allergic diseases, and more. In wanting the best for our children, this study fits with most every other study in saying that we should aim interventions early and not wait until we miss a window for intervention.
Helping our children live healthier, more abundant lives in regards to their mental health includes lowering inflammation in early childhood through avoiding toxins and controlling infections. Good nutrition and adequate antioxidants in their diets earlier in life helps clean up inflammation and limit any minor damage before serious conditions develop.
Original Article:
Edward R. Palmer et al. Trajectories of Inflammation in Youth and Risk of Mental and Cardiometabolic Disorders in Adulthood. JAMA Psychiatry, 2024 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.2193
Thanks to Science Daily:
University of Birmingham. “Inflammation during childhood linked to onset of mental health issues in early adulthood.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 August 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821124244.htm>.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
