Too much cortisol is clearly unhelpful, but as it varies a lot during the day you would need to find some way of measuring its average position. We are probably better using HbA1c as a measure of stress for that purpose although obviously other things affect HbA1c not only cortisol levels.
•Chronic stress increases metastasis
•Chronic stress establishes pro-metastatic lung microenvironment
•Deleting the neutrophil-glucocorticoid receptor abolishes stress-induced metastasis
•Chronic stress induces metastasis-promoting neutrophil extracellular traps
Open access paper:
Chronic stress increases metastasis via neutrophil-mediated changes to the microenvironment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1535610824000370
Alzheimer’s risk associated with stressful life events during childhood and midlife, study finds
Alzheimer’s disease, a major cause of dementia, currently affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, a number expected to triple by 2050. A recent study published in the Annals of Neurology explores the relationship between stressful life events and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on how the timing and nature of these stressors might influence disease onset. The study finds that not all stressful events are equally impactful, with midlife or childhood stressors showing a stronger association with Alzheimer’s disease risk factors compared to stress accumulated over a lifetime.
Prior research has identified various psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and chronic stress as potential risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. These factors can activate biological responses that may predispose individuals to the disease.
The new study aimed to expand on this understanding by specifically focusing on the role of stressful life events and their impact on Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, brain inflammation, and brain structure. This was particularly relevant as previous studies have primarily concentrated on neuropsychiatric symptoms rather than the broader category of life stressors.
“Our study reinforces the idea that stress could play a significant role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and provides initial evidence regarding the mechanisms behind this effect, but additional research is needed to replicate and validate our initial findings,” said Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, the senior author of the study.
Research Paper:
Related - Adverse Childhood Events / Stressful Events & Experiences, ACE Scores
Stressed parents, stressed kids? Trauma may ripple across generations
Strugar, in a recent reel, shared that a mother’s stress during pregnancy, for instance, can influence the developing brain of her baby. This impact stems from elevated levels of stress hormones, like glucocorticoids, which can alter the structure and function of certain brain regions such as the amygdala. “Stress can have a significant impact on the amygdala, which is a key part of the brain involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and stress responses,” he captioned the post.
Source: https://x.com/AyusWellness/status/1784122908790419840
Full Open Access Paper:
https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/abstract/S1535-6108(24)00037-0
Physical activity reduces stress-related brain activity to lower cardiovascular disease risk
Study’s findings help to explain how exercise benefits heart health
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
Key Takeaways
- Results from a new study indicate that physical activity may help protect against cardiovascular disease in part by reducing stress-related brain activity
- This effect in the brain may help to explain why study participants with depression (a stress-related condition) experienced the greatest cardiovascular benefits from physical activity.