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| Credit: www.earthfitnessgym.com |
Why
does chronic stress lead to increased risk for dementia?
The
answer may lie in the elevation of stress steroids that is seen in the brain
during stress, Sara K. Bengtsson suggests in the thesis she is defending at
Umeå University in Sweden on March 22nd.
These
stress steroids can inhibit the general brain activity. Allopregnanolon is one
of them, and the doctoral thesis shows that chronically elevated levels of
allopregnanolone accelerated the disease development in two transgenic Alzheimer
disease models. The Alzheimer mice responded with impaired learning and memory.
They had also increased brain levels of beta-amyloids, i.e. the proteins that
form plaques in Alzheimer's disease.
The
thesis also demonstrates that high levels of beta-amyloids corresponded to
dysfunction among brain synapses. This was seen after a period of chronically
elevated levels of allopregnanolon, but not after placebo treatment. The
effects were identified early in the disease development when the animals normally
have intact memory function. A similar acceleration of AD in humans could mean
the difference between living self-sufficiently at home and living with
requirements of professional care.
###
The
above story is reprinted from materials provided by Umeå universitet.
Read
the thesis or abstract HERE
###
Blissing
Out
10
Relaxation Techniques To Reduce Stress On-the-Spot
If
your hectic lifestyle has got you down, experts say relaxation techniques can
bring you back into balance -- some in five minutes or less.
1.
Meditate
2.
Picture Yourself Relaxed
3.
Breathe Deeply
4.
Mindfulness
5.
Drink Hot Tea
6.
Show Some Love
7.
Try Self-Massage
8.
Take a Time-Out
9.
Try a Musical Detour
10.
Take an Attitude Break
Click
HERE for details of each of these 10 steps by Jenny Stamos Kovacs of WebMD
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