Maternal alcohol consumption prior to and during pregnancy significantly affects cognitive
functions in offspring, which may be related to
changes in cyclin - dependent kinase 5 because it is associated with modulation of
synaptic plasticity and impaired learning and memory.
''... we hypothesize that repeated stress - related allostatic overload may affect brain
function at three basic levels: (a) at the cellular level, it may compromise proteostasis (e.g. tau protein), organelles homeostasis, and induce epigenetic
changes in neuronal DNA; (b) at the tissue level it may affect intracellular communication (
synaptic contacts), number of cells (reduction of neuronal density), composition of the extracellular matrix (accumulation of amyloid plaques), and neuroinflammation; (c) at the systemic levels it may alter the brain's regulation of behavior (cognitive decline).
One final example is the prefrontal cortex, which is thought to play an important role
in regulating behavior by suppressing impulses and emotions arising from the amygdala and other parts of the limbic system.50 — 52 In animal studies, exposure to chronic stress or glucocorticoids alters the synaptic connectivity within the prefrontal cortex, 52,53 and this may limit the ability of the prefrontal cortex to (1) suppress the impulsivity and aggression of the limbic system, and (2) execute adaptive responses (rather than maladaptive responses) to stress.54 — 56 Stress - induced changes in brain structure parallel the well - described impact of significant childhood adversity on a variety of brain functions, including the modulation of physiologic responses (hyper - responsive or chronically active stress response), learning (impaired memory), and the regulation of behavior (the ability to execute adaptive vs maladaptive responses to stress).3, 39,
in regulating behavior by suppressing impulses and emotions arising from the amygdala and other parts of the limbic system.50 — 52
In animal studies, exposure to chronic stress or glucocorticoids alters the synaptic connectivity within the prefrontal cortex, 52,53 and this may limit the ability of the prefrontal cortex to (1) suppress the impulsivity and aggression of the limbic system, and (2) execute adaptive responses (rather than maladaptive responses) to stress.54 — 56 Stress - induced changes in brain structure parallel the well - described impact of significant childhood adversity on a variety of brain functions, including the modulation of physiologic responses (hyper - responsive or chronically active stress response), learning (impaired memory), and the regulation of behavior (the ability to execute adaptive vs maladaptive responses to stress).3, 39,
In animal studies, exposure to chronic stress or glucocorticoids alters the
synaptic connectivity within the prefrontal cortex, 52,53 and this may limit the ability of the prefrontal cortex to (1) suppress the impulsivity and aggression of the limbic system, and (2) execute adaptive responses (rather than maladaptive responses) to stress.54 — 56 Stress - induced
changes in brain structure parallel the well - described impact of significant childhood adversity on a variety of brain functions, including the modulation of physiologic responses (hyper - responsive or chronically active stress response), learning (impaired memory), and the regulation of behavior (the ability to execute adaptive vs maladaptive responses to stress).3, 39,
in brain structure parallel the well - described impact of significant childhood adversity on a variety of brain
functions, including the modulation of physiologic responses (hyper - responsive or chronically active stress response), learning (impaired memory), and the regulation of behavior (the ability to execute adaptive vs maladaptive responses to stress).3, 39,57