JAK Signaling in Depression and Cognition in Male Football Players

This study is being done to learn more about the role of inflammation in depressive and cognitive symptoms in patients with depression who have played at least 10 years of football. This will be assessed using a medication called baricitinib that blocks one aspect of inflammation. This study will enroll depressed adult male football players enriched for high inflammation \[blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)\], anhedonia, and cognitive dysfunction. Qualifying participants will be asked to take the study medication once daily by mouth for 8 weeks and undergo MRI scans, provide blood and urine samples for safety or to measure biomarkers of inflammation, complete clinician-rated and self-report assessments of depressive and cognitive symptoms, and perform computer or paper-and-pencil tests of neurocognitive function. Blood and other biological samples may be stored for future research use, with the participant's consent.