A body goes through many processes to defend itself from trauma. One of those processes is the activation of microglia. This type of cell accounts for nearly 15% of all cells found within the brain. This cell acts as one of the first lines of defense against trauma. Microglia are part of the central nervous system. Microglia work in groups in the central nervous system to maintain the health of your brain. Microglia are very sensitive to any changes that occur in the central nervous system. Certain nerves in the body send messages to groups of microglia to activate them to protect the body from trauma.
Microglia are plastic in nature. They can change in the central nervous system based on what location they are in the body. Microglia can change their phenotype, i.e., expressed facial features, to respond to chemical signals they have detected. Microglia can play a big role in defending the brain from experiencing neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathic pain, and traumatic brain injuries. Microglia can adjust to the body’s experience to stress due to trauma of all sorts.
Microglia are negatively impacted by psychological stress and trauma. High activation occurs when stress is present in bodies at high levels. For example, exposure to either inescapable shock or repeated social defeat has been shown to activate expressions of microglial cells in the brain and the brain stem. The microglial response may, however, be exaggerated in the body if stress is not removed from the person’s brain and the body.
Stress coming from PTSD-related events can severely impact a person’s nervous system. Science tells us about this relationship between PSTD and a person’s impaired nervous system needs to be addressed in more detail by psychologists and researchers alike. This way, effective treatments can be proposed to address the extensive effects access to microglia has on the person’s brain and body.
Studies continue to show that PTSD-related events have negative effects on the production of microglia. This creates a great deal of vulnerability in the brain of a person. Due to this issue, people can become more susceptible to a clinical diagnosis of PTSD. Although Microglia defends the body from severe inflammation, these cells can create PTSD symptoms which may affect a person in the long term, impacting their well-being in a negative way.
Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.
Clinical Complex Trauma Specialist (CCTS-1),
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (C-DBT),
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (CADC)
