How Stress Changes The Brain, According To A New Study

If you have a lot of stress in your life -like, uh, most of us – it could lead to memory loss and mild brain shrinkage by age 50, a new study says. Published in the newspaper Neurology, research shows that, over time, high levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, have been linked to memory impairment and actual brain shrinkage. While stress does change the brain in some ways, there are things you can do to counter its effects. Researchers stress (ahem) that you do not need to stress out about these findings, though – there's plenty you can do.

"Higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone," brainstorming, "and" performance cognitive tests, "study author Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a neurology professor at UT health San Antonio told CNN. brain shrinkage in a relatively new way of life. "It's never too early to be mindful of reducing stress."

For this study, over 2,000 otherwise healthy, middle-aged volunteers participated in the research. Study authors found that participants with higher blood cortisol levels did not perform well compared to those with normal levels of the hormone. Stressed out participants also showed slight brain shrinkage, and these were also more pronounced among women participants. CNN notes that the data was adjusted to age, gender, and whether or not participants smoked.

TIME reports that, over the course of the eight-year study, MRI scans have been used to assess brain volume, while each under study examines their psychological memory and their thinking skills. Blood tests were also used to track cortisol levels. TIME Further notes that, while researchers did not follow up the study later, it was possible that the long-term effects of cortisol on the brain could predict cognitive decline in later years.

"Dr. Seshadri told us that we have already shown that this magnitude of predictable levels of mental dementia, even vascular brain injury," TIME.

While this information can be a lot to process, it's important to note that Some stress is a totally natural part of life. During the body's normal stress reaction, cortisol is central to the fight or flight response, according to LiveScience. If you need to deal with a serious threat, the cortisol's function during a stressful event is key to staying safe. Once the threat passes, however, cortisol levels should drop again as your body regains homeostasis. When this does not happen and cortisol levels stay high, then health problems can happen in the long-term.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to counteract the potential harm that chronic stress can cause. According to Verywell Mind, self-care strategies can make a big difference in how resilient you are against stress. Regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating well can all majorly up your stress endurance. Also, if you're going to be stronger, or you're going to be stronger, you're going to be able to get better handle whatever comes your way. Moreover, by staying socially engaged and supported, you can help keep your mind sharp, while getting in touch with you. Stress happens, so, take some deep breaths, take care of yourself, and try to stress your stress.