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Article: Chronic stress shrinks brains. (includes related article about increased Health hazards on Mondays)
- Article from:
- Insight on the News
- Article date:
- October 28, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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For years research has shown a link between stress and brain damage in rats and primates, but evidence of the connection in humans has proved elusive. Now, using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging technology to study patients with histories of severe stress or depression, scientists have made alarming findings:
* The brains of patients who have experienced severe stress suffered "significant reductions" in the size of the hippocampal region. The hippocampus is a small area in the center of the brain that helps process critical learning and memory functions. A shrunken hippocampus is linked to cognitive problems and memory loss -- premature aging.
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