5 Ways Chronic Stress Alters Your Brain and How to Safeguard Your Mental Well-being

Discover how chronic stress physically changes your brain and learn practical strategies to protect your mental well-being. This video explores five key ways stress impacts brain structure and function, from memory and decision-making to emotional regulation. Plus, get actionable steps to build resilience and reverse stress-related brain changes.

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References:
Stress-Induced Amygdala Growth
Vyas, Ajai et al. “Chronic stress induces contrasting patterns of dendritic remodeling in hippocampal and amygdaloid neurons.” The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience vol. 22,15 (2002): 6810-8. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-15-06810.2002

Amygdala Enlargement in Humans Under Chronic Stress
Roozendaal, B., McEwen, B. & Chattarji, S. Stress, memory and the amygdala. Nat Rev Neurosci 10, 423–433 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2651

Mindfulness Meditation Can Reduce Amygdala Size
Taren, Adrienne A et al. “Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial.” Social cognitive and affective neuroscience vol. 10,12 (2015): 1758-68. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv066

Hippocampal Atrophy:
McEwen, Bruce S et al. “Stress Effects on Neuronal Structure: Hippocampus, Amygdala, and Prefrontal Cortex.” Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology vol. 41,1 (2016): 3-23. doi:10.1038/npp.2015.171

Prefrontal Cortex Impairment:
Arnsten, Amy F T. “Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function.” Nature reviews. Neuroscience vol. 10,6 (2009): 410-22. doi:10.1038/nrn2648

Altered Neuroplasticity:
McEwen, Bruce S, and John H Morrison. “The brain on stress: vulnerability and plasticity of the prefrontal cortex over the life course.” Neuron vol. 79,1 (2013): 16-29. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.06.028


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Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.