Cortisol is a hormone your body releases during stress, and it plays a big role in how your brain handles memories. In simple terms, it can boost memory for emotional events but harm memory in other situations, especially when levels…
Stress Hormones and Brain Aging Our bodies release stress hormones like cortisol and CRH when we face pressure. These chemicals help us react quickly in tough situations. But when stress lasts a long time, they can harm the brain and…
Pain often acts as a spark that sets off changes in how people behave, feel, and act day to day. When pain hits, it can lead to emotional ups and downs, trouble sleeping, and habits that make things worse over…
People with dementia often experience changes in how they feel and report pain. These shifts can make it harder for caregivers and doctors to know when someone is hurting and how to help. In dementia, the brain’s ability to process…
People with dementia often react more strongly to pain than others. This happens because their brains process pain differently due to the disease. Dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, damages key brain areas. The hippocampus, an early target in Alzheimer’s, handles both…
Inflammatory pain is a type of pain caused by inflammation in the body, like when tissues swell and release chemicals that signal nerves to hurt. This pain often lasts longer than expected and can change how the brain remembers it,…
Chronic pain does more than hurt the body. It changes the brain in lasting ways, affecting emotions, memory, and thinking. When pain lasts for months or years, it lights up parts of the brain like the amygdala. This area handles…
Pain Avoidance and Cognitive Decline Many people with chronic pain try to avoid anything that hurts. They skip exercise, social events, or daily tasks to dodge the discomfort. This makes sense at first. No one likes pain. But over time,…
Fear can play a big role in how people with early dementia act, often leading them to pull back from daily life and activities they once enjoyed. This reduced activity happens when confusion, embarrassment, or worry makes simple tasks feel…
Fear of falling does more than just make people nervous. It changes how the brain controls balance and movement, often leading to stiffer postures and cautious steps that can actually raise the risk of a fall. When someone stands or…