Stress research updates

Chronic stress increases level of a protein that decreases availability of mood-regulating chemical

One way chronic stress appears to cause depression is by increasing levels of a protein in the brain that decreases the availability of an important chemical that regulates our mood, scientists report.

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A tough day could erase the perks of choosing 'good' fat sources, study finds

The type of fat you eat matters, but a new study suggests that the benefits of good fats vanish when stress enters the picture. This study is the first to show that stress has the potential to cancel out benefits of choosing healthier fats.

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Alcohol exposure during adolescence leads to chronic stress vulnerability

Alcohol exposure during adolescence leads to chronic stress vulnerability

Research updates

Brain circuits involved in stress-induced fevers identified

When we feel mentally stressed, we often also feel physiological changes, including an increase in body temperature. This increase in body temperature is known as psychological stress-induced hyperthermia. Stress for people in today's society can last a long time and cause a chronic increase in body temperature, a condition called psychogenic fever. Researchers now have identified a key neural circuit connection in the brain that's responsible for the development of psychological stress-induced hyperthermia. Read more

Early life stress can leave lasting impacts on the brain

For children, stress can go a long way. A little bit provides a platform for learning, adapting and coping. But a lot of it — chronic, toxic stress like poverty, neglect and physical abuse — can have lasting negative impacts. A team of researchers recently showed these kinds of stressors, experienced in early life, might be changing the parts of developing children’s brains responsible for learning, memory and the processing of stress and emotion. Read more

New Study May Explain Why Stress Can Cause Heart Attacks

Stress can cause an overproduction of white blood cells, which can contribute to blockages. Read more

How you cope with stress may increase your risk for insomnia

A new study is the first to identify specific coping behaviors through which stress exposure leads to the development of insomnia. Results show that coping with a stressful event through behavioral disengagement -- giving up on dealing with the stress -- or by using alcohol or drugs each significantly mediated the relationship between stress exposure and insomnia development. Read more