Stomach aches, fatigue, insomnia… The symptoms of stress are well known to people who live with it on a daily basis. What they know less, however, is that the stress accumulated today can damage the memory many years later.
The explanation lies on the side of cortisol, the famous stress hormone that increases in our body when we feel in danger. These cortisol spikes act as an alarm signal that warns and protects us from an “external threat” or a situation deemed to be at risk, making us more alert and more cautious. Problem, in the long term, these repeated stress shots are harmful to our health. They promote digestive problems, anxiety, weight gain or hypertension.
Memory is no exception. High levels of cortisol eventually erode the synapses (connections between two neurons) in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain that controls short-term memory. Put simply, excess cortisol wears down the wires in our brains that record and store information. As we age, stress eats away at our synapses to such an extent that they end up disappearing causing memory lapses.
How to keep a memory intact
The study published in the journal Neuroscience suggests the possibility of finding treatments capable of reducing cortisol in people who naturally have a high level, such as people who are depressed or who have experienced emotional trauma.
In the meantime, we practice keeping calm and relaxing with these yoga exercises and we follow these neurologist tipsto keep a memory at the top for longer.
Are you often stressed? Testify on the forum !
