Tóm tắt
Studies in animals showing hippocampal atrophy and associated memory
deficits in stress and aging have implications for stress and aging in humans. Clinical studies in
traumatized human populations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have replicated
studies in animals, showing reduction in volume of the hippocampus measured with magnetic
resonance imaging and associated memory deficits. Trauma at different stages of development
(early childhood abuse versus trauma in later life due to combat) may influence the nature of
memory deficits and hippocampal atrophy. Studies in aging human subjects are consistent with
animal studies, although future research is needed in this area. The similarities between
biological findings related to cortisol and the hippocampus in stress and aging in both animal and
human studies raises the question of whether PTSD can be seen as a form of accelerated aging.
Evidence that stress affects the hippocampus and the capacity for learning has broad implications
for public health policy, underlying the need for additional resources in this important area and a
reexamination of our understanding of factors influencing academic achievement.
