Shafaqna English- Scientists have discovered that anxiety may be controlled by two opposing groups of immune cells in the brain, rather than by neurons as previously thought.
Research in mice reveals that specific immune cells called microglia act like biological pedals – one group accelerating anxiety responses while the other suppresses them.
When researchers transplanted only the “anxiety accelerator” microglia into mice, the animals showed clear signs of anxious behavior. However, when both types of microglia were present, they balanced each other out, maintaining normal anxiety levels. This suggests that healthy anxiety regulation depends on the equilibrium between these competing cell groups.
The findings could revolutionize anxiety treatment by shifting focus from neurons to immune cells. Future therapies might target these specific microglia populations to restore natural anxiety control, offering new hope for the one in five people affected by anxiety disorders worldwide.
Source: University of Utah Health