Dr. Charles Raison on Depression, the Immune-Brain Interface & Whole-Body Hyperthermia

Episodes of inflammation earlier in life due to such conditions are linked to a higher likelihood of developing major depression or schizophrenia.

A gut expert who discusses post-prandial inflammatory response due to food being hard on the gut and foreign substances entering the body.

Colleague at Harvard collaborating on hyperthermia work, particularly studying the effects of hot yoga.

Filmed San Bushmen demonstrating persistence hunting, showing humans can run animals to exhaustion in hot environments.

Colleague who, with Kesh, developed 'The Wild Five' program combining lifestyle interventions for well-being.

Smart lights that can change color, used to optimize light exposure by changing from blue light in the day to red light at night.

The publisher of 'The New Mind Body Science of Depression'.

A country where a study was conducted comparing TNF gene haplotypes and survival rates in areas with varying pathogen exposure.

A pathway of tryptophan metabolism that, when immune systems are activated by chronic inflammation, shunts tryptophan away from serotonin to form kynurenine, which activates immune cells and leads to neurotoxic agents.

Researcher at NYU who, with Roland Griffiths, showed psilocybin can induce lasting antidepressant effects in depressed anxious cancer patients.

Government research institution where Tom Wehr conducted studies on circadian rhythms and bipolar disorder.

A 700-page book co-authored by Dr. Raison and Vladimir Milet, covering inflammation, evolution, risk factors, and neurobiology of depression, including hyperthermia cases.

Involved in folate metabolism; certain forms are depression risk factors and are likely pro-inflammatory, but also offer increased survival in high-pathogen areas like sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Raison's mentor and a world leader in showing that depressed individuals with higher inflammation have different brain functional connectivity and immune responses.

Colleague at Harvard who has joined Dr. Raison in hyperthermia research, especially interested in hot yoga.

Indigenous group whose persistence hunting methods were filmed by David Attenborough.

Colleague and mentor at the University of Wisconsin who has studied how novice meditators achieve effects with hardcore meditation, similar to long-term practitioners.

A gene involved in circadian rhythm and susceptibility to bipolar disorder, suggesting a genetic link to timing and mood regulation.

A chemical the body makes that turns on inflammation. Used in cancer and for treating Hepatitis C, it can induce clinical depression, suicidal thoughts, and hopelessness in a significant proportion of people.

Researcher who co-authored a paper on the mediation of obesity and behavioral problems by increased inflammation.

An NMDA antagonist that can be a metabolite of kynurenine.

A famous Harvard researcher known for the idea that human brains may have evolved largely in response to long-distance running (persistence hunting).

Researcher at Yale who conducted a study showing that antidepressants benefit a subset of people, but others may do worse than with a placebo.

Co-author of 'The New Mind Body Science of Depression' with Dr. Raison.

A genetic variation in the TNF gene known to influence inflammation levels; pro-inflammatory forms increase risk of death in low-pathogen areas but protect in high-pathogen areas, especially early in life.

A cytokine that is a 'bad guy' in chronic inflammation associated with heart attacks, strokes, and dementia, but also acts as a myokine in exercise and heat stress, suppressing other pro-inflammatory markers.

Dr. Raison's colleague with whom he is writing a book about ancient practices and antidepressants.

A retired circadian rhythm expert from NIH who conducted a study where a bipolar patient was successfully treated by being kept in darkness for 12 hours daily.

Academic institution where Dr. Raison is a professor.

Mentioned as an example of a high pathogen area where certain pro-inflammatory gene variants provide a survival advantage.

Dr. Raison's colleague, described as brilliant for mechanical stuff, who helped create a placebo device for hyperthermia studies.

Colleague at UC Boulder, whose work Dr. Raison credits for understanding how heat sensitizes thermoregulatory cooling pathways.

A protein that, when increased in mice, protected them from depressive-like symptoms and correlated with increased BDNF.

A neurotoxic agent formed via the kynurenine pathway, skyrockets under interferon treatment and is powerfully associated with depression.

An online-based resource developed by Kesh and Sondra Jen, combining exercise, diet, sleep, social connectivity, and meditation/mindfulness for well-being.

One of the originators of chrono therapy for bipolar disorder, emphasizing consistent sleep-wake cycles.

The center at the University of Arizona where Dr. Raison was the founding director.

A medical condition for which Interferon Alpha was used as a treatment, leading to depressive symptoms in some patients.

Researcher at Johns Hopkins who rigorously studies psychedelic substances, demonstrating that psilocybin can induce powerful, lasting antidepressant and anti-anxiety responses.

A scholar and expert on Tibetan Buddhism and meditative practices, confirming meditation can induce profound experiences similar to psychedelics.

A study there showed an increased risk of psychotic mania in people arriving from America compared to Asia, likely due to sleep deprivation from time zone changes.