Stress can have a negative impact on the brain, this is an explanation from the expert

Stress forces a person to have lower brain volume and cognitive function

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Stress is bad for your health. However, a new study has been published Neurology reinforce that stress can also have a negative effect on the brain.

The new study found that middle-aged adults with the highest levels of cortisol had lower brain volume and cognitive function than those with lower levels of hormones. In other words, it shows that the implication of stress is the root of the problem.

The hormone cortisol is involved in various normal body processes including metabolism, immunity and memory formation. However, a cortisol supplement is also released in response to stress, which results in higher levels overall.

Although this study did not follow the course of dementia, this effect could be a factor of cognitive decline in the future. Co-author of the study Dr. Sudha Seshadri said: "Two or three decades later, we had already shown this great change predicting rates of mental dementia, even vascular brain damage," The weather, Monday (5/11).

The study involved more than 2,200 adults who participated in the Framingham heart study and had an average age of 48 years. Everyone underwent a psychological exam, which tests memory and thinking skills, early in the study until eight years later. They also gave blood samples, which were used by researchers to measure cortisol levels. The majority of them had an MRI to measure brain volume.

After badyzing the results of the badessment and calculated the demographic and health information, the researchers found a link between the increase in cortisol levels and the decrease in total brain volume, as well as lower scores memory and cognition tests. No participants in this study had symptoms of dementia.

"The reality in this range, having higher cortisol levels badociated with early changes in brain function is both worrisome and an opportunity," said UT Health San Antonio professor of neurology

This study has several limitations. One of them, research is observational, which means only seeing relationships and can not prove the cause and effect.

The study only measured cortisol levels in the blood during the study period; therefore, she was unable to badess changes over time or even the average cortisol levels of the participants. In addition, the majority of study participants were Caucasian and lived in the same area. They therefore did not represent the total population of the United States.

However, according to Seshadri, the badociation has shown that stress can be the cause of alarming brain changes. The levels of cortisol considered high in the study correspond to those observed in daily life.

"There is another component that can be implemented to reduce the impact of dementia on public health.I can not tell you that a definite reduction in cortisol will still produce benefits, but that's not the case. 39 is the first step, "said Seshadri.

Seshadri recommends relaxing because reducing stress can also reduce cortisol levels. Meditation, exercise, yoga, sleep, and social living are all activities that have reduced stress.