How Stress Can Muddle Your Mind And Memory

People under a great deal of stress can tend to make more mistakes and have problems thinking clearly. Stress elevates our cortisol levels, and can have a negative impact on nerve cells in the brain that are related to memory. In animal studies, cortisol has been shown to increase the rate of cell death in the brain. People with chronically high levels of cortisol show accelerated degeneration of the hippocampus, a region of the brain vital for proper cognitive function and emotional well-being.

DHEA appears to have a protective effect against the ravages of stress. Numerous animal studies have shown that the adrenal hormone DHEA can protect the brain from neuronal damage and enhance memory function. Low DHEA correlates with the presence of organic brain syndrome in elderly men. Although a recent study found that DHEA replacement did not influence cognitive performance in a group of healthy elderly individuals, this may be because DHEA affects brain function through its balancing effect on cortisol, by blocking some of negative effects of high cortisol on learning and memory.

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References:

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