Stress Can Shrink and Age Your Brain
Fact: Stress shrinks neuronal cells in the brain that affect memory, decision-making, and attention (at least in mice).
Prevention: Exercise and seeing a "shrink" (cognitive therapy, etc.)
Relevant Quotes
New research is providing insight into how stress can shrink your brain cells and prematurely age your immune system
Exercise can make a huge difference...might heal the wounds caused by stress
Repeated stress actually causes neurons in the brain to shrink, at least in rats...Neurons shrink in the hippocampus [which] impair memory...and prefrontal cortex, which is crucial for decision-making and attention.
"The brain of a stressed animal or human being is a different brain. It has different capacities, and it may be more anxious and have less ability to pay attention or learn or remember."
Fixes: cognitive behavior therapy and growing evidence that exercise has very powerful effects.
Stress can [also] wreak havoc on the immune system.
"Everything we already know about fighting off chronic disease, like getting sufficient sleep, staying active throughout life, and having a healthy diet" may stave off premature aging of the immune system, too.
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