Prospective reports of chronic life stress predict decreased grey matter volume in the hippocampus.

ABSTRACT: Chronic stress in non-human animals decreases the volume of the hippocampus, a brain region that supports learning and memory and that regulates neuroendocrine activity. In humans with stress-related psychiatric syndromes characterized by impaired learning and memory and dysregulated neuroendocrine activity, surrogate and retrospective indicators of chronic stress are also associated with decreased hippocampal volume. However, it is unknown whether chronic stress is associated with decreased hippocampal volume in those without a clinical syndrome. We tested whether reports of life stress obtained prospectively over an approximate 20-year period predicted later hippocampal grey matter volume in 48 healthy postmenopausal women. Women completed the Perceived Stress Scale repeatedly from 1985

SUBMITTER: Gianaros PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1868546 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature