MAAFIM 6th International Conference 2026

“Neuroinflammation and Mental Health: Clinical Links to Depression, Anxiety and Cognitive Decline”
Neuroinflammation has emerged as a key biological mechanism linking immune activation with a wide spectrum of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative diseases. Chronic activation of inflammatory pathways within the central nervous system can disrupt neuronal signaling, alter neurotransmitter balance, and impair synaptic plasticity, ultimately affecting cognition, mood regulation, and behavioral responses. Multiple factors may trigger neuroinflammatory processes, including environmental toxins, chronic infections, metabolic dysfunction, psychological stress, and disturbances within the gut–brain axis. These triggers activate immune cells such as microglia and astrocytes, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can compromise neuronal integrity and brain function. Increasing evidence suggests that neuroinflammation also contributes to accelerated brain aging and the development of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury–related cognitive decline. Integrative therapeutic strategies that address inflammation, detoxification, microbiome health, and lifestyle factors may therefore offer promising avenues for improving neurological and mental health outcomes.