Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Upon observing that stress exacerbates mental illnesses, researchers set out to address the question of whether anxiety damages the brain and whether they could pinpoint mechanisms behind the link between stress and mental illness.

The researchers – led by Dr Linda Mah of the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences conducted the research and reviewed that animal and human studies that examined brain areas affected by chronic anxiety, fear and stress.

The team defines chronic stress as “a pathological state that is caused by prolonged activation of the normal acute physiological stress response,” which can then, in turn, cause problems for the immune, metabolic and cardiovascular systems.

Likewise, chronic stress can cause the brain’s hippocampus to atrophy. This brain area is important for long-term memory and spatial navigation.

Results revealed that there were similar patterns of aberrant brain activity in the wake of fear, anxiety and chronic stress. In detail, the amygdala was overactive and the PFC – which contains the “thinking areas” of the brain that regulate emotional responses – was under active.

Interestingly, over a decade ago, renowned neurologist Dr Helen Mayberg first identified what the researchers call the “see-saw relationship” between the amygdala and the PFC in a breakthrough study.

However, not all hope is lost. Dr Mah also suggests that damage to the hippocampus and PFC as a result of stress is not entirely irreversible. She notes that both anti-depressant treatment and physical activity have both shown promise in increasing hippocampal neurogenesis.