Inflammation and Cognition in Children and Adolescents: A Call for Action

Abstract

Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection, which promotes tissue survival, remodeling, and repair, as well as adaptation to stress and restoration of the homeostatic state (1). In the acute phase of an inflammatory response, which could persist for a few days, inflammatory factors such as cytokines/chemokines, immune-related effectors, acute phase proteins, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are released, thereby triggering coordinated biological events (1). However, a prolonged inflammatory response, also known as chronic low-grade inflammation (1), may contribute to the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer) (2, 3) as well as to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunctions (4). Cognition involves a set of mental processes that shape perception, memory, intellect, and action, including executive functions (e.g., cognitive inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory), and other cognitive domains (e.g., verbal fluency and comprehension) (5). Although it has been suggested that the immune system might modulate brain functioning, how inflammatory factors could influence cognition is poorly understood. Here, we provide context and three open questions that need to be answered to move the field forward.