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Cortisol is a known stress hormone in the body that is responsible for the fight or flight response. New research now found that it may be linked to poor memory and brain shrinkage before the age of 50. ( pixabay )
Researchers of a new study have found that stress can lead to impaired memory and lower brain volume. The results of the study emphasize the importance of reducing stress.
Poorer Memory And Lower Brain Volume
In a new study, a team of researchers identified over 2,000 people, with an average age of 49, from the government-sponsored Framingham Heart Study, all of whom have no dementia.
At the beginning of the study, all 2,231 participants went through a series of psychological exams, and were tested for eight years. At the end of the study, they also provided blood samples and had MRI scans.
Researchers found that with higher cortisol levels, a known stress hormone, compared to those with normal cortisol levels. Furthermore, they also have higher cortisol levels with lower total brain volume.
According to the researchers, the memory loss and brain shrinkage are observed in the past, with the associations seen between men and women.
Stress Hormones
Cortisol is a key stress hormone in the human body that is typically associated with the "fight or flight" response. The adrenal tassels produce more cortisol when it's high, and it's back to normal. This is the body's way of survival by shutting down the systems that interferes with survival while on high alert and comes back to normal after.
However, the problem begins when the body's stress is prolonged and caused by such depression, sleeping disorder, weight gain, headaches, anxiety, and memory and concentration problems.
According to experts, the brain is particularly sensitive to such changes because of the amounts of nutrients and oxygen that it needs to function properly. Evidently, when the body distributes more resources to dealing with stress, less resources are going into the brain.
Reduce Stress
The researchers are not saying that stress causes brain damage, but they simply reveal the associations between brain functions and stress. More studies are needed to fully understand the relationship between cortisol and brain function.
"It's important for people to find ways to reduce stress," said Justin B. Echouffo-Tcheugui, the lead author of the study, noting that this may be done in various methods such as exercise and relaxation techniques.
The study is published in the journal Neurology.
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