Addiction Conference-NAPC 2026

There is a relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and chronic stress. Studies have proven that exposure to stress for lengthy periods has adversely affected brain health in the setting of development and progression of diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Stress initiates a biological chain reaction within the brain, such as the secretion of cortisol, which is considered a primary stress hormone of the human body. Although short-term stress responses are useful for survival, chronic stress is destructive to the brain, especially in regions involving memory, cognition, or emotion regulation.

Chronic stress has been shown to increase neurodegeneration by creating oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal damage. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. When the levels of free radicals outnumber the number of antioxidants, the cellular structure of the body is degraded. This is particularly disturbing in neurodegenerative diseases where neurons are already highly sensitive to dying; chronic stress accelerates the effects of oxidative stress, leading to a faster rate of cell loss in brain areas, such as the hippocampus, which plays an essential role in memory formation and is usually one of the first areas to be compromised in Alzheimer's disease.

Chronic stress has been linked to the depletion of dopamine associated with Parkinson's disease, as it is an important neurotransmitter for the body in that it regulates movement and coordination. Stress can also exacerbate the motor symptoms of patients suffering from Parkinson's through the cyclic release of stress hormones into the body; Dopamine-producing neurons in the brain remain impaired due to this cyclic release of stress hormones. In ALS, stress is implicated in the worsening of muscle function and contributes to the death of motor neurons.

The other critical actor involved in the link between stress and neurodegenerative diseases is neuroinflammation. Chronic stress activates immune responses in the brain, leading to an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause inflammation. The damage caused by such inflammation can facilitate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, primarily in predisposed subjects.

Reducing chronic stress, therefore, is a cardinal issue in preventing and managing neurodegenerative diseases. Techniques that reduce stress are mindfulness, meditation, exercise, and CBT. These have successfully reduced the impact of stress as it relates to the effects on the brain. Other emerging research into neuroprotective agents and anti-inflammatory therapies would help further reduce the effects of stress on neurodegeneration.

This serves as a basis for the understanding of the relationship between stress and neurodegenerative diseases in developing interventions that would address both the biological and psychological factors that lead to a decline in brain health.