Each of us experiences stress, anxiety or fear from time to time: this is an integral part of life. However, if we encounter negative emotions too often or constantly, they can negatively affect all aspects of our lives: work, study, relationships with people.
Chronic stress is a condition that occurs when the body’s normal short-term stress response lasts too long or occurs too often, which can disrupt the immune and cardiovascular systems and lead to atrophy of the hippocampus (a region of the brain important for long-term memory). and spatial orientation).
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Scientists from the Baycrest Medical Research Center in Toronto, Canada, led by Dr. Linda Mah, Associate Professor of Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Canada, reviewed existing research on damage to various areas of the brain as a result of exposure to chronic stress , fear and anxiety. In particular, they were interested in how these factors increase the risk of developing diseases such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Previous research by Linda Ma has already shown that anxiety disorders increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in people with mild cognitive impairment.
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The researchers were particularly interested in the brain regions associated with the emotions of fear and anxiety (the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus), as they are the main “hit” when exposed to chronic stress. They found that under chronic stress, there is almost the same abnormal activity in the brain as with fear and anxiety – excessive activity in the amygdala (associated with emotions) and a lack of activity in the prefrontal cortex (the “thinking” area associated with regulation emotions by conscious volitional efforts).
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“Pathological anxiety and stress are associated with the development of degenerative processes and dysfunction of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which may explain the increased risk of developing various disorders such as depression or dementia,” says Dr. Linda Ma.
At the same time, Linda Ma notes that these changes are not completely irreversible. Antidepressants and exercise are known to stimulate neurogenesis (growth of new neurons) in the hippocampus.
“In the future, we hope to establish which prevention methods (e.g. exercise, mindfulness and meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy…) can not only reduce stress levels, but actually reduce the risk of developing neurological and psychiatric disorders,” says Linda Ma .
Подробнее см. L. Mah et al. «Can anxiety damage the brain?», Current Opinion in Psychiatry, January 2016, vol. 29, № 1.