Review: Caffeine reduces brain inflammation and mood symptoms in rodents
Feb 22nd 2026
A systematic review in Translational Psychiatry of 17 rodent experiments found caffeine consistently eased anxiety and depression behaviors, linked to lower neuroinflammation, reduced oxidative stress, and higher protective brain factors.
- Seventeen rodent studies showed caffeine reduced anxiety and depression like behaviors across multiple models.
- Caffeine lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced microglial activation in the brain.
- Caffeine decreased oxidative stress while boosting antioxidant defenses and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
- Caffeinated preparations outperformed decaf in inflammation tests and some effects matched the antidepressant imipramine in animal comparisons.
- Most experiments used adult male rodents and caffeine doses varied widely, leaving gaps for females, different ages, and dose standardization.
- Very high caffeine doses in some studies worsened anxiety and memory, so safe and effective human doses remain unclear.