High levels of stress could cause you to think less clearly

BOSTON – High levels of stress could be causing you to think less clearly.

Researchers at Emory University studied nearly 25,000 Black and White adults over age 45 and found that those who reported high stress were 37% more likely to experience worsening cognition over time, including problems with memory, concentration, reasoning, and the ability to learn new things. 

While the link between stress and cognition was the same regardless of race, the Black participants reported higher levels of stress overall. 

They say chronic stress can cause changes in areas of the brain that are responsible for inhibiting stress and being able to recognize when you need help, leading to a vicious cycle. 

They say older adults should be screened for stress and anxiety and treated accordingly. 

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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