Prolonged stress leads to a sustained reduction in cognitive functioning
Multiple clinical and preclinical studies indicate that prolonged or chronic stress is linked to sustained impairments in cognitive functioning, executive deficits, and memory decline.
The retrieved literature consistently demonstrates that chronic stress models and prolonged stress conditions in humans and animals lead to various forms of cognitive decline, memory impairment, and executive dysfunction, supported by mechanisms such as neuroinflammation, HPA axis dysregulation, and structural changes in the prefrontal cortex.
M. Papp, P. Gruca, M. Lasoń-Tyburkiewicz, E. Litwa, M. Niemczyk, K. Tota-Glowczyk, P. Willner. Dopaminergic mechanisms in memory consolidation and antidepressant reversal of a chronic mild stress-induced cognitive impairment`. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4651-4
The study demonstrates that chronic mild stress impairs cognitive performance such as novel object recognition.
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Sengul Kocamer Sahin, Esra Aslan. Inflammation as a Neurobiological Mechanism of Cognitive Impairment in Psychological Stress.. 2024. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2305101
This review highlights that chronic psychological stress contributes to structural degeneration and cognitive impairment.
Çiğdem Öztürk, Serra Nur Ataoğlu, A. Arvas, Hamide Tokol, Havva Yaprak, Sümeyra Gürel, H. Levent, D. Akakın, A. Şahin, B. Çakır, Özgür Kasımay. Weekend warrior exercise model for protection from chronic mild stress‑induced depression and ongoing cognitive impairment.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.55782/ane-2023-002
The research shows that chronic mild stress leads to depression-induced decreases in cognitive measures in rats.
J.N. Souza-Talarico, E.C. Chaves, R. Nitrini, P. Caramelli. Chronic Stress Is Associated with High Cortisol Levels and Emotional Coping Mechanisms in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1159/000259696
The paper finds that chronic stress is associated with elevated cortisol levels and cognitive impairment in amnestic mild cognitive impairment subjects.
Xiangfei Zhang, Danyang Wang, Yupei Liu, Jing Sun, Bei Fan, Fengzhong Wang, Cong Lu. The Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharides in Chronic Stress-Induced Neural Damage.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120219
The study indicates that chronic stress models induce cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.
Silvia Herrero-Roldán, Alexandra Martín-Rodríguez. Neglect and Neurodevelopment: A Narrative Review Understanding the Link Between Child Neglect and Executive Function Deficits. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13071565
This review establishes that childhood neglect and chronic stress cause lasting executive function deficits.
Juyoung Kim, Longfeng Li, Kevin M. Korous, Carlos Valiente, Monica Tsethlikai. Chronic stress predicts post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms via executive function deficits among urban American Indian children. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2021.2024164
The study shows that chronic stress, measured by hair cortisol concentration, predicts executive function deficits in children.
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