Submitted by One-Garden-1294 t3_z0cmd1 in askscience
Dr_Vanc_Zosyn t1_ix4ulkd wrote
More context please. Do you mean inflammation of the central nervous system (meningitis, cerebritis, ventriculitis), peripheral nervous system (neuritis), or...? Do you have a specific clinical or research concern?
NSAIDs cross the blood-brain barrier in rats. Since they are anti-inflammatory by definition, maybe yes? Again it depends what you're really looking for here -- "neuroinflammation" is a subtype of inflammation and I'm not sure the distinction is really relevant beyond the BBB, but it's not my field.
One-Garden-1294 OP t1_ix4uq73 wrote
I mean chronic neuroinflammation as seen in depression, long COVID etc
Dr_Vanc_Zosyn t1_ix4vjb1 wrote
I think this is a cutting edge basic science question. From what I can tell (eg this 2021 review) we are still in the early stages of understanding the link between inflammation and depression in the first place. Similar with COVID-19, though even more nascent.
In general NSAIDs have not been found to effectively treat depression or COVID-19. They have been extensively studied and I suspect we would have discovered a correlation if one existed.
LynnOnTheWeb t1_ix5hxgf wrote
What about for something like encephalitis caused by a UTI or other infections in the elderly?
[deleted] t1_ix5iqbz wrote
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rookieseaman t1_ix5ckm8 wrote
He’s not asking if it treats depression or Covid, just the inflammation associated with those thingsz
Dr_Vanc_Zosyn t1_ix5ihkw wrote
I assumed that one would care about disease-related inflammation in order to treat the symptoms of the disease, but yes
[deleted] t1_ix5kzin wrote
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unsigned1138 t1_ix6h732 wrote
So you mind if I interject here, being specific for neuralgia’s. Trigeminal, Geniculate, occipital, glossopharyngeal, etc.
I think I know the answer that medication with anti-convulsive properties are more effective, but the question stands. Are there anti-inflammatory properties to NSAIDS that may help?
Dr_Vanc_Zosyn t1_ix6kex3 wrote
That would make sense to me. Trigeminal neuralgia at least is caused by direct compression of the trigeminal nerve root, which certainly causes some degree of inflammation. Inflammation is probably a minor contributor though; demyelination seems to be the main cause of pain in that condition. NSAIDs can treat the pain and inflammation there. Anticonvulsants are more effective because they directly modulate the firing of those nerve fibers and prevent them from generating a pain signal in the first place.
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