The alarming effects of chronic stress: 75-90% of doctor visits due to stress-related complaints and death as a possible consequence

The alarming effects of chronic stress: 75-90% of doctor visits due to stress-related complaints and death as a possible consequence

The effects of chronic stress on the brain

Recent statistics have raised alarms within the global health community. What is worrying is that 75-90% of all doctor visits are due to stress-related complaints. Additionally, chronic stress has been linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung disease, accidents, liver cirrhosis and suicide. Never before has it been more important to understand the profound effects of stress on our brains, a connection rooted in our evolutionary response to threats. However, when this natural response becomes chronic, the brain suffers and permanent damage occurs.

The brain, the primary control center of our body, is vulnerable to the negative effects of stress. Although stress is an inherent part of life and serves as a “fight or flight” response to perceived threats, chronic stress can have devastating consequences. Activation of our brain's "fear center," the amygdala, by stress leads to a cascade of events, from production of the stress hormone cortisol to increased glucose concentration and heart rate. While these are natural responses to momentary threats, chronic activations of these pathways can have serious consequences.

When the amygdala is under the influence of chronic stress, it remains constantly active. This continuous engagement leads to persistently elevated cortisol levels, which in turn leads to digestive problems, sleep disorders, and a weakened immune system. In addition, prolonged stress reduces the energy available to other regions of the brain and impairs their proper functioning.

One of the most noticeable effects of chronic stress on the brain is memory impairment. Under stress, even mundane challenges like finding misplaced keys can become insurmountable tasks. Dr. Kerry Ressler, senior research fellow at McLean Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, notes: "The brain diverts its resources because it is in survival mode, not memory mode." In addition, chronic stress can cause changes in brain structure. The balance between gray and white matter, crucial components of our brain responsible for decision-making, problem solving and information communication, can be severely disrupted.

Worryingly, stress has the potential to kill brain cells, particularly in the hippocampus, a region involved in memory formation. Despite our brain's ability to produce new neurons, research shows that these newly formed cells are more susceptible to death under stressful conditions. Additionally, areas of the brain associated with emotions, metabolism, and memory can shrink due to chronic stress.

But it's not all bleak. Moderate stress can strengthen cognitive function, strengthen neural connections, and improve memory and attention span. These effects explain why some people thrive under pressure.

A groundbreaking study from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at DGIST has presented astonishing evidence: chronic stress triggers an autophagic cell death response in the neural stem cells of the hippocampus. Autophagy, a cellular process of self-digestion and recycling, can lead to self-destruction of cells under certain conditions. Professor Seong-Woon Yu's team has discovered that stress-related cell death in the hippocampus occurs via this autophagic mechanism. This shines a bright light on the clear connection between stress and cognitive defects, mood disorders and even neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

Essentially, the science is clear:Stress causes brain damage. With a better understanding of this phenomenon and its underlying mechanisms, it is hoped that more effective treatments for stress-related ailments, mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases can be developed in the future.

In conclusion, although stress is an inevitable aspect of life, its chronic manifestation has undeniable and serious effects on the brain. Awareness of this can guide personal strategies for mitigating its effects and inform future scientific efforts addressing stress-related brain damage.