Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40510937›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in psychology2025

Inflammation and depression: an evolutionary framework for the role of physical activity and exercise.

Pedro Carrera-Bastos, Breno Bottino, Matthew Stults-Kolehmainen, Felipe Barreto Schuch, Fernando Mata-Ordoñez, Paulo T Müller, José-Ramón Blanco, Daniel Boullosa

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
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  5. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Pedro Carrera-BastosFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Breno BottinoFederal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.
Matthew Stults-KolehmainenDivision of Digestive Health, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, United States.
Felipe Barreto SchuchDepartment of Sports Methods and Techniques, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
Fernando Mata-OrdoñezFaculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Paulo T MüllerSchool of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.
José-Ramón BlancoInfectious Disease Service, Hospital Universitario San Pedro, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain.
Daniel BoullosaFaculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Universidad de León, León, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading global health challenge, affecting nearly 5% of the population. Mounting evidence suggests that systemic low-grade chronic inflammation (SLGCI) plays a central role in the development and progression of MDD. This persistent inflammatory state results from unresolved immune activation and sustained exposure to modern lifestyle factors, such as sedentary behavior, poor diet, inadequate sleep, and psychological stress. Regular physical activity (PA), particularly exercise, has been shown to modulate inflammatory processes and improve depressive symptoms. This narrative review examines the complex interactions between inflammation and MDD, focusing on the role of PA and exercise in mitigating SLGCI and neuroinflammation. This is approached through an evolutionary lens, exploring how the mismatch between ancestral and modern activity levels may contribute to the rise of MDD. In addition, it highlights the potential risks of excessive exercise, including overtraining and its association with depressive symptoms. Finally, this work proposes a practical framework for optimizing PA and exercise as preventive and therapeutic tools for MDD by aligning modern PA patterns with ancestral behavioral norms.

Indexed as

exerciselifestyleMajor Depressive Disordermismatchneuroinflammationsystemic low-grade chronic inflammation

Identifiers

PMID40510937
PMCPMC12159072

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.