Make Visible: Complex Chronic Illness Explored

#6 The Science of Stress: Exploring Brain Function, Inflammation, and Cognitive Health with Yale Prof. Amy Arnsten

16 snips
Dec 9, 2024
In a thought-provoking discussion, Yale's Prof. Amy Arnsten sheds light on the intricate relationship between stress, inflammation, and cognitive health. She reveals how chronic stress affects the prefrontal cortex, leading to issues like brain fog and emotional dysregulation. Prof. Arnsten also highlights the role of kynurenic acid, particularly in conditions like Long Covid, and shares insights on guanfacine, a drug with potential benefits for cognitive restoration. Her cutting-edge research offers hope for better understanding and treating mental health disorders.
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INSIGHT

Stress Switches Off Higher Cognition

  • Under acute stress the brain shifts resources from recently evolved prefrontal circuits to primitive survival circuits like the amygdala and brainstem.
  • This switch conserves energy for immediate survival but impairs complex thought and decision-making.
ANECDOTE

Freezing Saved Her Life

  • Amy Arnsten froze when a bear dropped out of a tree and that immobility likely saved her life.
  • She uses this story to illustrate how stress can trigger rapid primitive survival responses that shut off higher cognition.
ADVICE

Translate Molecular Findings Into Treatments

  • Arnsten's lab manipulates molecules around single neurons to create stress-like conditions without stressing the animal.
  • Use molecular insights from animals to develop targeted treatments that can then be trialed in humans.
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