We all know that stress can have seriously negative effects on our health. Being stressed out for an extended period of time can play havoc with your sleep cycle, which can in turn seriously disrupt your ability to concentrate. Large infusions of stress hormones can cause you to crave excess quantities of food, particularly unhealthy junk food like chips or pie. Stress can also drive you to feel isolated, frightened and drained of energy, conditions that can lead to the development of major depression. And, a new study by the University of Florida has found a link between stress and Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers found that when you feel stressed, your body releases a certain hormone that triggers the creation of protein fragments in the brain. As these protein fragments began building up, they spark a degenerative cascade that can result in the development of Alzheimer’s. With the study’s findings in mind, it’s more important than ever that you find a way to relieve your stress on a daily basis. This can mean different things for different people. For some it means jogging while others find curling up with a good book to be relaxing. And, stressed out folks should definitely consider getting a massage as it is been proven to trigger the release of hormones that have a calming effect on your biochemistry.

Read the full article here: UF Health researchers find some evidence of link between stress, Alzheimer’s disease