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PTSD risk is linked to certain brain responses to stressful stress

Published

2 years ago

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PTSD risk is linked to certain brain responses to stressful stress

According to the largest prospective study of its kind, people who were exposed to potentially dangerous scenarios and who had lower hippocampal activity had more severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the days and weeks that followed the event.

This relationship between decreased hippocampal activity and the chance of developing PTSD was especially apparent in people who had more defensive reflexive reflexes to being startled.

According to this study, which was published in the journal Neurosci, those who react more defensively to potentially dangerous occurrences may find it more difficult to determine whether an event is risky or not. They are also more likely to experience severe forms of PTSD, which include symptoms like being constantly alert for danger, engaging in self-destructive behaviour like binge drinking or speeding, having trouble falling asleep and staying awake, being irritable, having angry outbursts, and having nightmares.

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According to senior author Vishnu Murty, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Temple University, “these findings are important both to identify specific brain responses associated with vulnerability to develop PTSD, and to identify potential treatments focused on memory processes for these individuals to prevent or treat PTSD.”

The national Advancing Understanding of Recovery after Trauma (AURORA) Study, a collaboration between multiple institutions, is financed by the National Institutes of Health, charitable foundations like One Mind, and partnerships with top technology firms. Samuel McLean, MD, MPH, head of the UNC Institute for Trauma Recovery and professor of psychiatry and emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, serves as the organising primary investigator.

Researchers can use data from patient participants who visit emergency rooms at hospitals around the nation after suffering trauma from vehicle accidents or other traumatic situations thanks to AURORA. AURORA’s main objective is to promote the creation and evaluation of preventive and therapeutic interventions for people who have endured traumatic situations.

Only a small percentage of trauma survivors get PTSD, which is linked to greater sensitivity to danger and a reduced capacity to activate neuronal pathways that retrieve emotional memories, according to AURORA scientists. However, it is unclear how these two processes interact to raise the chance of getting PTSD. Murty and colleagues studied the brain and behavioural reactions of people two weeks after trauma to better understand these processes.

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Researchers discovered that the individuals with the most defensive reactions to startling events following trauma had the least activity in their hippocampus and the least activity in their hippocampus, along with laboratory and survey-based assessments for trauma.

According to Busra Tanriverdi, the study’s principal researcher and a doctoral student at Temple University, “among these people, increased defensive reactions to dangers may bias them against learning information about what is happening so that they can determine what is safe and what is harmful.” These findings point to a crucial PTSD biomarker that is concerned with how survivors of trauma create and recall memories.

According to McLean, an author on the publication, “these most recent findings add to our list of AURORA discoveries that are aiding us in understanding the differences between people who go on to acquire posttraumatic stress disorder and those who do not.” Studies that concentrate on the immediate aftermath of trauma are crucial because they help us better understand how PTSD manifests itself and how to prevent and cure it.

According to Brandon Staglin, president of One Mind, “Since beginning our financial support of the AURORA Study in 2016, we remain steadfast in our commitment to helping AURORA investigators make significant discoveries and to bridge the gaps that exist in mental health research funding and patient support.”

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Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

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1 month ago

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November 21, 2024

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Train smarter, not harder: How taking occasional breaks from gym can revolutionise your fitness routine

Taking regular breaks from intense training, like deload weeks, helps your body recover, preventing fatigue and injury, and ultimately boosts fitness gains.

When it comes to getting fit, the idea of spending hours at the gym might come to mind, but many fitness experts argue that taking a “deload week” every six to eight weeks is actually key to improving your fitness gains. A deload week involves reducing the intensity of workouts to allow the body to recover from the fatigue and muscle damage caused by intense training.

While high-intensity training helps build strength and fitness, it can also lead to muscle strain, and without adequate recovery, these gains can’t fully materialise. Deload weeks give the body much-needed rest to repair and rebuild, ensuring continued progress. (Also read: Bhagyashree swears by this super easy exercise for instant leg pain relief and better mobility. Watch how to do it )

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Why recovery is key for muscle growth

According to an article by The Conversation, intense exercise can cause tiny tears in muscle fibres, leading to inflammation that requires rest or low-intensity exercise to heal. This inflammation is essential for muscle growth and fitness improvements. However, without proper recovery, muscles remain in a state of slight damage, preventing inflammation from resolving. This chronic state of inflammation can hinder muscle function, reducing oxygen efficiency and impairing performance. Giving muscles time to recover through rest ensures they repair properly and are primed for continued progress, setting us up for greater success in our fitness journey.

Many gymgoers fear taking time off and are worried it will lead to a loss of gains. However, research shows that muscle genes have a “memory imprint,” which keeps them in a semi-prepared state. This allows muscles to respond more quickly and effectively to future training, promoting growth after a rest period. Even after extended periods of reduced intensity, up to seven weeks, muscular fitness can be restored to prime condition—and in some cases, surpass previous levels. Interestingly, recovery can occur twice as fast as it took to reach peak fitness initially, even if some strength is lost.

Taking time off from intense training is crucial to prevent muscle soreness and avoid overtraining syndrome. Overtraining occurs when the body doesn’t get enough rest, leading to prolonged fatigue, decreased performance, and mood disturbances. Symptoms develop gradually, making overtraining difficult to recognize until it’s severe. Rest is essential to avoid these issues and ensure long-term progress in training.

Role of overtraining syndrome and deload weeks

Overtraining syndrome is challenging to quantify due to its vague symptoms. Studies suggest it may affect as few as 10% of elite athletes, though rates could climb to 60% among highly competitive individuals. Recovery is essential for both fitness and overall health. When engaging in heavy gym routines, it’s vital to incorporate sufficient recovery time into your workout plan. Unlike rest days, which involve little to no exercise once or twice a week, deload weeks feature lighter training at reduced intensity—typically about 50% fewer workouts or a 20% drop in workout intensity.

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Both rest days and deload weeks are essential for recovery and crucial to improving fitness. It’s not about choosing one over the other—they complement each other. For instance, intense training for marathons, Ironman, or CrossFit competitions requires weekly rest days alongside scheduled deload weeks. However, for recreational gym-goers exercising 1–3 times weekly at a moderate intensity, the recovery from this routine is often sufficient without the need for additional deload weeks.

Fitness influencers recommend incorporating deload weeks into training schedules every 4–8 weeks, aligning closely with the expert advice of 4–6 weeks. However, it’s crucial to listen to your body and schedule deload weeks as needed. If your performance plateaus or worsens, it may signal time for a deload. Training plans should be flexible enough to allow rest when required. Deload weeks not only enhance performance but also support overall health.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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