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Chronic Stress Could Lead To Depression and Dementia, Scientists Warn (independent.co.uk)

Posted by timothy on from the well-that's-a-problem dept.

schwit1 writes: A major review of published research suggests that chronic stress and anxiety can damage areas of the brain involved in emotional responses, thinking and memory, leading to depression and even Alzheimer's disease. Dr Linda Mah, the lead author of the review carried out at a research institute affiliated to the University of Toronto, said: 'Pathological anxiety and chronic stress are associated with structural degeneration and impaired functioning of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, which may account for the increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia.'

2 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What is stress? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I mean physiologically.

    Anything that strains or exhausts the body. So there are 2 types of stress: eustress, or stress that has short-term benefits like exercise and sex. Then there's distress that has short term damage to the body like minor drug use or a panic attack. Modern living is fairly consistent in its demands on the body, which is usually a good thing allowing the problems of civilization to be structured and compartmentalized. The problem comes when all compartments of modern living cause stress. Then the body (and mind) cannot repair and refresh (and learn). Now people tend to say they're stressed even while doing minor activities, like talking to (polite) strangers. Scientists have determined that the brain in normal use is exhausted before the muscles are, in normal use. So the question becomes: Is this a misnaming of a minor activity which normal people can handle, or do mental tasks cause more distress than physical tasks?

  2. It greyed my hair by 45 @ work... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    See subject: "Salt & Peppered" here because of it as a programmer-analyst/software-engineer & before it could ruin me I backed off "semi-retiring" early as far as working for others (had to, wasn't born rich etc.) deciding to start a business of my own (which has its stresses but it's not nearly as bad/constant as designing w/ analysis + coding & testing - plus, I get ALL the gravy minus overheads instead of "peanuts percentages" as compared to the entire cake that was possible by making others rich on my sweat... it's better this way).

    * Now, my money works for ME, not the other way around as it was for me from 16-45... I'd recommend it to ANYONE in fact but it's not possible for everyone (again, wasn't for me until I had enough put away to do what I now that made it all possible)... it's not all "daisies & balloons", and you're NEVER "truly free" and do still have to account to others (just less of them), but your chains are a LOT less on you.

    I tried contracting after full-time work for others (& still do in easier things than programming, more network-engineer/admin stuff now which is CAKE by comparison since you're working w/ things that DO work & have a roadmap way to get it done, just tedium & time consuming but NOT the stress of creation... working with already proven working things IS by far, easier than creating them from scratch - compounding it with a numbskull no-mind boss who has NO PLACE calling his subordinates, SUBORDINATES, when he can't do the job himself having had walked a mile in their shoes first (to be wise it's necessary and to be a GOOD leader that makes those sound decisions too), & who is of NO HELP since he's never done the job himself makes it worse (was lots of that in the CS/IT field in the 90's to early 21st, less now though))

    APK

    P.S.=> Stress kills - slowly: Come right down to it, imo @ least? It's not worth it looking back in hindsight, but it always looks that way looking back once the "ends have justified the means" for anyone/everyone who goes thru it and most us of do, & as I said, have to!

    HOWEVER:

    It's better than being part of the "Brotherhood of the Bell" ala the Glenn Ford film (living a lie that fronts you everything up front first asking for HORRIBLE prices later you have to live with & LIVE DOWN in your head and the eyes of others that know) ala the Glenn Ford film about fraternal secret handshaking type OR religious organizations of MANY kinds which I'd had offered to me 3 times in the former (can't figure out why either) circa 1994-2008 & I am GLAD I declined (see that Glenn Ford film to see what I meant here by analogy - I couldn't live w/ myself IF I took that route, & GLAD I didn't - it's for weasels, cheats, & sneaks who have NO consciences who "want it all fast" in a world of immediate gratifications, when the truth is you can 'grind it oout' & get it yourself w/ work & time (nothing truly good, comes easy))... apk