When operating in survival mode, expelling large amounts of cortisol — commonly known as the stress hormone — can save your life. But staying in that state for too long — like what happens when we are constantly ruminating over an issue — can lead to life-threatening health issues such as significant weight gain or loss, digestive problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
A University of Iowa study has claimed to have discovered a possible link between stress hormones and adult short-term memory loss.
Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study revealed that having prolonged elevated levels of cortisol can result in memory gaps as we age.
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Researchers linked high amounts of cortisol to the gradual loss of synapses in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain where short-term memory is stored.
Synapses are the connections that help us understand, store, and recall data.
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When we grow older, repeated and long-term exposure to cortisol can cause them to shrink and eventually disappear.
Overall, researchers believe that stress hormones are one mechanism that leads to the eventual battering of the brain. 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.
Although the findings are in the preliminary phase, they raise the possibility that a person’s short-memory decline may be slowed or
prevented by decreasing levels of cortisol.
That could mean treating people who have naturally high levels of cortisol — such as those who are depressed or experiencing PTSD.
According to the researchers, short-term memory lapses related to cortisol start around the age of 65.
That’s about the equivalent of two-year-old rats, which was what the researchers studied to come to their conclusion.
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Still, researchers say it’s important to note that stress hormones are only one factor when it comes to mental decline and memory loss as we age.
A University of California study found that sleep deprivation is connected with brain degeneration andmemory loss in older adults.
When it comes to men in their mid to late 40s, another study found that those who drink more than two and a half alcoholic drinks per day are likely to show signs of memory loss and cognitive decline up to six years sooner than men who are light drinkers or who don’t drink.
The bottom line is, you must invest in ways to decrease stress so you can feel better and improve your memory as well.
Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.
