Question:
How does stress affect the brain?
- Eddie from Scotland
MegOnTheMind's Response:
Dear Eddie,
You've picked a topic I know all too well - STRESS! Back when I was a college student, stress got me through my exams. It made me study and kept me alert during the test-taking - but I always tried to combat the stress with exercise. Of course I didn't know then, what I know now: exercise may have saved my brain from the detrimental effects of stress!
When we encounter a stressful situation an area in our brain (the hypothalamus) sets off a chemical cascade, which eventually leads to an increase in the level of the stress hormone "cortisol" in our blood stream. While the short-term effects of cortisol can be beneficial (allowing us to be more alert and have more energy to deal with the stressful situation at hand) recent studies have shown that continued presence of cortisol in the bloodstream (caused by chronic stress) can damage the brain. Specifically, long-term stress can cause the part of the brain that encodes new memories (the hippocampus) to shrink, presumably due to a loss of brain cells in that area.
Evidence also indicates that high levels of stress can damage the chemical system in the brain that is responsible for emotional states, like happiness (serotonin). This might be why people with chronic stress often become depressed.
Of course, chronic stress is also bad for the rest of the body, causing high blood pressure, ulcers, and other serious disorders.
New drugs that target cortisol may help decrease the negative effects of chronic stress on the brain, but there is also a natural way of combating stress: exercise.
Exercise, while being good for your body - is also great for your brain. In fact, some studies have found that exercise can cause new cells to grow in your hippocampus (in effect replacing those lost from stress).
So, next time you're stressed out - hit the gym!
That's what's on my mind, now you tell me, what's on yours!
-MegOnTheMind
MegOnTheMind© 2003-2006
Please note that while all submitted questions to MOTM will be considered, not all submitted questions will be able to be answered. Questions may be edited for clarity.
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