– why are some better at it
than others?
Stress and Resilience
affect the way cells express genes. Such changes
can be incurred by maternal care or dietar y
choices. Sometimes, certain repressive epigenetic
ma r ke r s rende r s t res s - cop i ng genes to be
unresponsive to environmental factors, causing the
individual to be more vulnerable to future stressors.
However, in others, epigenetic markers can cause
the release of a natural antidepressant, providing
mental protection to the individual from stress.
On the other side of the nature versus nurture
debate, genet ics play a s ign i f icant rol e i n
determining one’s stress-coping ability. Gender,
which is both genetic and hormonal, also has an
impact. Male rats and female rats, for example,
display different neuronal changes in response to
chronic stress. Application of an acute tail shock,
which is a stressor for rodent models, causes male
performance in a behavioural test to improve
and female performance to decline. Research
into human gender differences in dealing with
stress has shown that male and females approach
stressors using different strategies due to subtle
distinctions in brain structures.
Gi ven the potent i a l ps ycho l og i ca l and
phys io l og ical consequences of poor s t res s
resilience, one would be curious as to whether
the effects of stress on the brain’s architecture
is reversible. To some extent the structure can
be restored to resemble its original state after a
recovery period. Yet even after such a recovery,
there remain subtle but undeniable differences
between the stressed and unstressed brain. Thus,
stress-induced changes can be permanent; later
treatments only introduce compensatory changes
to induce a healthy cognitive state. Cer tain
changes in gene expression may be irreversible.
Thus, it would be wise for one to take preventive
measures instead.
To improve stress-coping abilities and to guard
against toxic stress, certain activities known in
the literature as “top down” therapy, as opposed
to pharmacologic therapy could be adopted.
Regular exercise has been shown to improve
pref ronta l cor tex b l ood f l ow and i ncrease
hippocampal volume, both of which are excellent
st res s -coper s. There i s, in fact, a molecular
explanation for this phenomenon. As mentioned,
hippocampal neurons respond to insulin- like
growth factors (IGF1), which is triggered during
exercise. IGF1 exerts neurogenesis-promotion by
activating signalling pathways in the cell. A related
method is brain exercise – or intense learning
sessions. Training the cognitive system has also
been shown to increase hippocampal volume
in humans. Finally, positive social interaction and
having purpose in life also produce similar stress-
coping benefits to regular physical activity.
Stress is an inevitable component of l ife.
Whether we can cope with it in a positive manner
is largely determined at birth and early childhood.
However, there are strategies with which we
can improve our resilience, therefore preventing
chronic stress from creating permanent footprints
on our mental and physical health.
