Caffeine Linked to Reduced Brain Inflammation and Mood Benefits in Rodent Studies

A systematic review of 17 rodent experiments finds caffeine consistently lowers brain inflammation and improves anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, likely via adenosine receptor blockade, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress; caffeine's effects are comparable to some antidepressants in animals, but most data come from adult male rodents with varied dosing, so human studies are needed to determine safety and applicability.