Does Stress Affect Memory?
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Have you ever felt really stressed and started to forget things? You may be having such a hectic day that you forget your car keys on the kitchen counter. Maybe you arrive to your office just in time for an important business meeting, only to discover that you left your essential documents at home. Do you ever scramble around madly searching for your purse to find out you have been carrying it all along! Do you ever completely blank out at the first sight of an exam question, even though you spent all week studying? If you can relate to any of these scenarios, you’re certainly not alone! This is a very common occurrence for men and women worldwide. The more stressed you are, the more forgetful you often become, which affects brain age. Can senior citizens health be affected by stress? As they age, seniors become more concerned about memory loss which increases stress causing a vicious cycle. Memory loss is a concern of health, seniors fear more than others. While there is a fear it may be part of natural aging, memory lost plagues many adult 55 and older.
Research on Stress & Short-Term Memory
The good news is that you aren’t going crazy. Researchers have discovered there is actually a link between stress and short-term memory. They chemically induced stress in rats and monkeys, and then monitored the effect on their short-term memory. The level of stress experienced by the animals was very similar to a human writing an exam or being startled by a loud noise. The animals’ short-term memory and ability to concentrate was affected, even when they were subjected to very mild stresses. This can also affect brain age.
The results revealed that any stressful situations where you don’t feel in control can activate an enzyme in your brain called protein kinase C. This PKC enzyme can affect your short-term memory and cause temporary bouts of forgetfulness. The stress doesn’t have to be traumatic. Almost any stressful situation where you feel a loss of control can activate the PKC enzyme which enables abstract reasoning. However, if you’re confident, this won’t occur and your memory won’t be affected. This reaction may date back to ancient times when early man needed to react quickly to dangerous situations in order to survive. Mental health aging and body aging may be enhanced by stress.
Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder
These stress studies have also revealed an active PKC enzyme in individuals who suffer from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In fact, the first psychotic episode experienced by many of these individuals was triggered by a stressful event that occurred in their life. As a result, of these studies on stress and brain function, researchers are currently seeking new drugs that will inhibit the PKC enzyme.
So the next time you get stressed and forget an important item or event, try not to worry. Your short-term memory should return as soon as you feel more confident and regain control of the situation. To stay mentally young and slow mental health aging, be aware of the aging effects stress may have on your brain.
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