The brain is the main stress processor, so it stands to reason that a developing brain would be especially sensitive to its effects. Multiple studies have shown that babies and children who grow up under profoundly stressful circumstances actually have less density in certain areas of the brain. The hippocampus, the part of the brain connected with memory and learning, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of stress. That is the area where most damage shows up.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS VIDEOS

CHAPTER 1 What Causes Stress? When you face challenges that seem beyond your control, your body's stress response takes over. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 3 Fight or Flight A perceived threat triggers this heart-pounding, muscle-tensing state of alertness. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 8 Stress Takes a Toll Over time, stress raises your risk of cardiovascular disease, digestive ailments and more. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 10 (currently viewing) Stress & the Growing Brain Babies and kids who endure traumatic events develop different brain structure as they grow up. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 14 Your Genes & Stress Stress is one factor that can cause certain genes to switch on or off, affecting inherited traits. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 16 Inherited Stress Damage There is growing evidence that some stress-induced changes in gene expression care passed on to children. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 17 How Stress Ages Us Part of our chromosomes that protects our cells during cell division can be damaged by stress, causing speedier aging. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 20 Coping with Stress You can't eliminate stress from your life, but you can minimize the harm by learning to manage it. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 25 Meditation in Focus One method of stress-reduction, meditation, brings measurable physical and emotional improvements. VIEW VIDEO