End Note - March 2010
Stress Can Take Over the Brain

March 11, 2010

Author: Catherine M. Callery (Kate) | Louise M. Tarantino

Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, Ph. D., found that stress has a significant impact on brain health. According to research, chronic exposure of the brain to toxic levels of cortisol is a primary cause of brain degradation. Cortisol is a hormone released when the body is under stress, and according to this study, extended or frequent exposure can become toxic to the brain. This toxicity causes damage to memory function and access, focus, and the health of individual brain cells. It can also create other hormonal imbalances as the overall health of the brain diminishes, causing symptoms such as lack of energy, moodiness, and suppressed immune functioning. Given its effect on memory, cortisol toxicity is believed to be one of the factors that cause Alzheimer’s.

In a time when high stress jobs are often equated with status and success, protect your brain by taking care of yourself. Make time to eat carefully and well, exercise to blow off steam and keep physically healthy, and find methods of stress reduction and meditation that work in your life.  Maybe join a yoga class, or maybe take 15 minutes each day to do a crossword puzzle.  Remember too that the brain can be revitalized… just because the damage has already begun doesn’t mean that you can’t still help yourself by changing how you live.