Stress Management - BrainMind Alzheimer's Prevention Series

Video 14: Stress Management
In collaboration with BrainMind, Dr. Isaacson discusses how stress impacts brain health and Alzheimer’s prevention.
About Dr. Richard Isaacson:
Dr. Richard Isaacson is the founder and former Director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at the Weill Cornell Memory Disorders Program. He is currently the director of Brain Health at the Atria Institute. A leading expert on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Dr. Isaacson is passionate about providing the latest evidence-based options for treatment and risk reduction. His research focuses on individualized clinical management of AD using emerging principles of precision medicine. He also oversees a robust AD therapeutics and education research program.
Effects of Stress:
Stress has a negative effect on cognitive function
● Increases variety of pathways in the brain
○ Ex: cortisol (stress hormone)
● Worry/ Stress leads to shrinkage of certain parts of the brain
Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) stress:
● Type of worry that has the most significant impact on brain health
● Higher levels of RNT are associate with higher levels of amyloid and tau accumulation in
the brain
○ Tau & Amyloid: two pathologic proteins that build up in brain cells that synonymize Alzheimer’s diseases
● RNT leads to brain shrinkage
What can we do about stress?
● Relaxation Techniques:
a. Breathe
b. Transcendental Meditation
i. 20 minutes in the morning (ideally twice a day) to quiet the mind and improve a variety of conditions like post-traumatic stress (PTSD) to
people suffering from cognitive illness
c. Periodic vacation reduces stress levels
d. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): a healing approach that combines
meditation and yoga
● Consult with doctors
● Free resources online
Fast-forwarding aging in the brain can be counteracted by stress reduction techniques
Other Effects of Stress
● Elevated blood pressure
● Problems with stomach ulcers
● Other health conditions that lead to faster aging
● Depression, anxiety, or negative thinking
○ Depression is a (modifiable) factor for Alzheimer’s Disease, which can be treated
via pharmacological or non-pharmacological means
● Longevity, healthspan, brain span are all equally impacted by stress
● Takeaways: Be mindful of your stress, take it seriously, and make a plan

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