Why do you feel anxious all the time? A new study reveals a unique connection between the brain and calcium.

News Topical, Digital Desk : High calcium levels in specialized immune cells called microglia in the brain may be linked to anxiety, according to a study, results that could pave the way for new treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Recent research indicates that these cells are not just passive protectors, but actively regulate anxiety and obsessive behavior through calcium signaling. Previous studies found that microglia can act as both accelerators and brakes for anxiety in mice.

Anxiety via calcium signals 

Researchers at the University of Utah have identified calcium as a key chemical signal that activates microglia during obsessive-compulsive and anxiety-related behaviors in healthy mice and also activates microglia in mice models of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD) and chronic anxiety. This research establishes how anxiety is generated and maintained through calcium signals.

Microglia are a key factor in understanding neuropsychiatric disorders.  

"Microglia are not just passive immune cells; they actively regulate behaviors related to anxiety, self-care, and obsessive-compulsive disorder through specific molecular signals like calcium," said Naveen Nagarajan, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville's Pediatric Research Institute and first author of the study. This makes microglia an important target for understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders, Nagarajan said.

The researchers used genetic tools combined with light-based cell stimulation to temporarily activate a group of microglia called "HOXB8" in healthy mice, which were observed to exhibit behaviors such as self-care and anxiety. However, it was not known which event within the HOXB8 microglia cells was activating these behaviors.

High calcium levels indicate 

The team found that calcium signals within microglia are crucial. These high calcium levels serve as a key molecular signal that activates obsessive grooming and anxiety. They explained that calcium ions enable microglia cells to encode and transmit instructions that shape behavioral outcomes.

Healthy mice that engaged in grooming, stationary behaviors, or other anxiety-like behaviors were associated with increased calcium levels in their microglia. When the behaviors ceased, calcium levels returned to normal. Furthermore, calcium was consistently elevated in HOXB8 mutant microglia in mice with chronic anxiety and OCSD.

Read More: These 7 infused waters are the best for weight loss, controlling belly fat and cravings.