Stress and the brain
Scientists have long known chronic stress can lead to neurological problems such as Alzheimer's disease, but only recently has a mechanism behind this link been found.
The link is a gene known as RCAN1. Chronic stress causes the gene to be given too loud a voice, producing an excessive number of proteins and degrading neurons. RCAN1 is responsible for creating a protein that normally helps build neurons, but two much of the protein can interfere with the building, and even damage neurons that are already built.
The discover may help researchers develop ways to treat and even reverse the damage.