What is the Origin of Stress-Induced Neurotoxicity?

This term is a clinical descriptor rooted in neuroendocrinology and neuroscience, combining "stress," referring to the allostatic load, with "neurotoxicity," meaning damage to nervous tissue. Research in this area established the link between elevated cortisol levels and morphological changes in the brain, fundamentally changing the understanding of stress as purely psychological.

What is the Mechanism of Stress-Induced Neurotoxicity?

Glucocorticoids, when chronically elevated, bind to receptors in the hippocampus and initiate a cascade of detrimental cellular events. These include the suppression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a key molecule for neuronal survival and growth, and the potentiation of excitotoxicity via glutamate. The prolonged presence of high cortisol increases oxidative stress and compromises the blood-brain barrier integrity, ultimately leading to dendritic atrophy and a measurable loss of neuronal volume in stress-sensitive brain regions.

Stress-Induced Neurotoxicity ∞ Area

Stress-Induced Neurotoxicity

Meaning

The pathological process where chronic or severe psychological and physiological stress, mediated primarily by excessive and prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids, causes structural and functional damage to neurons, particularly in vulnerable brain regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This neurotoxicity can lead to impaired cognitive function, reduced neuroplasticity, and an increased risk for mood disorders. It represents a major biological price of chronic stress on the central nervous system.