Sunday, December 2, 2012

Study: Stress Causes Brain To Shrink

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBS Connecticut) - A new study has found that living a stressful life may lead to shrinking in important parts of the brain.
Researchers at Yale University saw reductions in the amount of gray matter in parts of the brain that control physiological and emotional functioning in those who endured significant amounts of stress.
According to a press release on Yale’s website, the study observed over 100 healthy participants by conducting magnetic resonance imaging scans while they  answered questions about potentially traumatic life events, including the losing of a loved one, job or home.
“They found that even the brains of subjects who had only recently experienced a stressful life event showed markedly lower gray matter in portions of the … area of the brain that regulates not only emotions and self-control, but physiological functions such as blood pressure and glucose levels,” the release stated.
http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2012/11/30/study-stress-causes-brain-to-shrink/

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