Title: Study Reveals Surprising Link Between Stress And Memory Loss | HuffPost
Headings: Study Reveals Surprising Link Between Stress And Memory Loss
Study Reveals Surprising Link Between Stress And Memory Loss
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Content: Synapses are the connections that help us process, store and recall information. And when we get older, repeated and long-term exposure to cortisol can cause them to shrink and disappear. Download
“Stress hormones are one mechanism that we believe leads to weathering of the brain,” Jason Radley, assistant professor in psychology, said in a press release. Like a rock on the shoreline, after years and years it will eventually break down and disappear. While previous studies have shown cortisol to do the same in other regions of the aging brain, this was the first study to examine its impact on the pre-frontal cortex. And although preliminary, the findings raise the possibility that a person’s short-memory decline may be slowed or prevented by decreasing levels of cortisol, Radley added. That could mean treating people who have naturally high levels of cortisol — such as those who are depressed or experiencing stress due to a traumatic event. According to Radley and Rachel Anderson, the paper’s lead author, short-term memory lapses related to cortisol start around age 65. That’s about the equivalent of 21-month-old rats, which the pair studied to make their discovery. Still, researchers say it’s important to remember that stress hormones represent only one factor when it comes to mental decline and memory loss as we age.