Dr. Mandy Bekhbat: Immune System, Metabolism, and Depression

How Your Immune System and Metabolism Shape Depression with Dr. Mandy Bekhbat

In this episode, Dr. Mandy Bekhbat, a neuroscientist and assistant professor in the Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, takes us on a deep dive into the surprising relationship between the immune system, metabolism, and mental health. Her groundbreaking research is reshaping how we think about depression by exploring how these interconnected systems influence our mood, energy, and overall wellbeing.

Dr. Bekhbat explains how psychological stress can trigger chronic, low-grade inflammation, even in individuals without infections or medical conditions. This inflammation doesn’t just affect the body—it has profound effects on the brain. When coupled with metabolic disturbances, such as obesity or energy imbalances, it creates a perfect storm that can lead to a unique subtype of depression called “immunometabolic depression.” People with this condition often experience fatigue, increased appetite, slowed movement, and diminished motivation, driven by disruptions in how their immune cells and brain handle energy.

The podcast explores cutting-edge insights into how immune cells “consume” energy differently during inflammation, resembling metabolic patterns seen in cancer cells. These discoveries open up exciting new possibilities for treatment, from targeting immune cell metabolism with therapies borrowed from cancer research to lifestyle interventions like fasting or ketogenic diets, which naturally shift the body’s metabolic processes.

Key Takeaways:

• The Immune-Metabolism Connection: The immune system and metabolism are deeply intertwined, influencing how stress, energy, and inflammation affect mental health.
• A Unique Depression Subtype: Immunometabolic depression highlights the role of inflammation and metabolic issues in driving symptoms like fatigue and overeating.
• Promising Treatments: Therapies that recalibrate immune cell metabolism, alongside lifestyle strategies like fasting, could revolutionize mental health care.

Join this fascinating conversation to learn how these discoveries are unlocking new approaches to treating depression and improving overall mental health.

Featuring:

Dr. Roman Palitsky, a clinical psychologist and Director of Research Projects for Emory Spiritual Health

Host:

Charles Raison, Psychiatrist, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University

About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:

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