Chronic Stress May Be Aging the Brain Before Alzheimer’s Appears

A large study suggests that cumulative cortisol exposure and the loss of a healthy daily rhythm may help identify cognitive decline earlier

Older adults with the highest cumulative cortisol exposure experienced faster cognitive decline, while those with moderate cortisol variation across the day declined more slowly. The findings suggest that the body’s ability to regulate stress may matter as much as the amount of stress it carries.

Medicine usually searches for cognitive decline inside the…