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The branches of astrocytes retract from synapses 3 hours after stress and remain retracted for 24 hours. Credit: Bender et al. JNeurosci 2020

Research published by a professor of cell biology and anatomy at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Si-Qiong June Liu, MD, Ph.D., and published in the Journal of Neuroscience showed that stress could restructure the brain. The researchers also revealed a potential therapeutic target to prevent or reverse the restructured brain due to stress.

Stress can change the brain structure

Together with her research team, Liu found that a single stressful event can produce quick and long-lasting changes in astrocytes using a mouse model. These astrocytes are brain cells that clean up the neurotransmitters-chemical messengers in the brain- after they have sent information between the nerve cells.

Once the person gets stressed, the branches of the astrocytes react and it shrinks away from the synapses, which are the spaces across neurons where information is transmitted from one neuron to another.

The researchers also discovered that a mechanism wherein stress causes disruption. According to the researchers, the stress hormone, norepinephrine, suppresses a molecular pathway that usually produces a protein, GluA1 during a stressful event. Without this protein, nerve cells and astrocytes will not be able to communicate with each other.

Preventing stress-induced changes in the brain

Investigating the neurobiology of stress can reveal how stress affects neuronal connections and hence the brain function as stress alters the functions of our brain and can produce lasting changes in human behavior and physiology.

Dr. Liu noted that both the function and structure of neurons and astrocytes are affected by stress. Preventing or reversing the stress-induced change in astrocytes is a potential way to treat stress-related neurological disorders as astrocytes are critically involved in stress-related behavior.

Moreover, they also recognized a molecular pathway that controls GluA1 synthesis and in that way remodels astrocytes during stress. This means that there could be new pharmacological targets for possible prevention or reversal of stress-induced changes.

Liu added that the molecular pathways that lead to the structural remodeling of the astrocyte and suppression of GluA1 production can occur in humans that experience a stressful event since many signaling pathways are conserved throughout the evolution of man.

This knowledge is important for developing strategies in preventing and treating common stress-related neurological disorders especially those caused by traumatic events such as anxiety, depression and drug addiction.

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Keeping your brain healthy

The brain reacts differently to different situations and stimulations. So keeping it healthy always is essential to have a working and sound mind. To better cope with stress, consider minimizing some factors that can make it worse.

Establish some control over your situation such as having a routine because predictability combats stress. Try also to get a good night's sleep as the lack of sleep can only worsen your stress.

Use strategies to help you manage your tasks and therefore minimizing your stress. This way your duties may not look so overwhelming at all.

Lastly, change your attitude toward stress. A life with no stress is impossible and it will make your life dull. So instead of aiming for a life without stress, strive for healthier responses to stress.

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