#51 - Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D.: The pervasive effect of stress - is it killing you?

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Apr 29, 2019

In a gripping discussion, Robert Sapolsky, a renowned Stanford professor and author, dives into the complex world of stress and its pervasive effects on health and behavior. He shares insights from his studies on baboons, shedding light on how social hierarchy and personality influence stress responses. Sapolsky explains the physiological mechanisms at play, including the role of cortisol, and reveals how maternal stress can imprint on future generations. He offers practical tips for managing stress in our fast-paced modern world, illuminating how we can improve our well-being.

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ANECDOTE

Sapolsky's Baboon Research

Robert Sapolsky has studied stress both in the lab and in wild baboons.
He spent 30+ years observing baboons in East Africa, studying links between social rank, personality, and stress.

INSIGHT

Physiology of Stress

The stress response involves adrenaline for immediate reactions and glucocorticoids (like cortisol) for slower, sustained effects.
Adrenaline provides a quick burst of energy, while glucocorticoids mobilize resources for longer-term challenges.

INSIGHT

Cortisol's Evolutionary Role

Cortisol helps manage short-term physical crises by increasing glucose, boosting cardiovascular tone, and prioritizing essential functions.
Conditions like Addison's disease, where the stress response is impaired, highlight cortisol's importance in physical crises.

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In this episode, Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D., discusses the widespread impact of stress on our physical and emotional health as well as the mechanisms by which it can precipitate chronic illness, dementia, depression, and more. He also provides insight into the factors that contribute to the stress response (and our ability to handle it) such as social rank, personality, environment, and genetics. Lastly, we discuss how our behavior is altered in the face of stress and how that not only has a pervasive effect on a personal level, but also on society as a whole in how we interact with each other.

We discuss:

Background, interest in stress, and Robert’s time in Kenya studying baboons [7:00];
Physiology of a stress response, and why it’s ingrained in our DNA [14:00];
Individual variation in the response to stress, and how everyone has a different optimal level [24:00];
How social rank and personality differences affect our stress response [30:15];
What’s happening in the brain when faced with stressful situations? [39:15];
What makes the human brain different than all other species? [48:15];
Imprinting stress to your kids epigenetically [52:00];
The role of stress on memory and the consequences of hypercortisolemia [57:15];
The impact of subjective socioeconomic status and social media on stress levels and health [1:01:45];
Tips for managing stress in the modern world [1:17:45];
What Robert learned about himself studying the social behavior of baboons [1:29:30];
The multilayered factors behind every human behavior, the context of “good and bad,” and exploring the human capacity of the wild extremes of violence and altruism from moment to moment [1:34:30];
PMS: How two women with identical hormone levels can have completely different emotional experiences [1:39:00];
How much of a role do genes play in depression and other emotional states? [1:42:45];
Why is cortisol elevated under sleep deprivation? [1:50:15];
The impact of stress on cancer [1:54:30];
The impact of stress on atherosclerosis, dementia, addiction, and depression [2:01:15];
Impulsiveness, impaired judgement, and lack of empathy in times of stress [2:05:45];
What advice would Robert give his 25-year-old self? [2:12:45]; and
More.

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