Association between stressful life events and grey matter volume in the medial prefrontal cortex: A 2‐year longitudinal study

Abstract

Stressful life events (SLEs) in adulthood are a risk factor for various disorders such as depression, cancer or infections. Part of this risk is mediated through pathways altering brain physiology and structure. There is a lack of longitudinal studies examining associations between SLEs and brain structural changes. High‐resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging data of 212 healthy subjects were acquired at baseline and after 2 years. Voxel‐based morphometry was used to identify associations between SLEs using the Life Events Questionnaire and grey matter volume (GMV) changes during the 2‐year period in an ROI approach. Furthermore, we assessed adverse childhood experiences as a possible moderator of SLEs‐GMV change associations. SLEs were negatively associated with GMV changes in the left medial prefrontal cortex. This association was stronger when subjects had experienced adverse childhood experiences. The medial prefrontal cortex has previously been associated with stress‐related disorders. The present findings represent a potential neural basis of the diathesis‐stress model of various disorders.

Lifetime Stressful Events Associated with Alzheimer's Pathologies, Neuroinflammation and Brain Structure in a Risk Enriched Cohort

“…We showed SLEs to be associated with lower volumes in regions of the limbic system (amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, and insular cortex) that are known to be involved in stress perception and emotional regulation 42,43 . Previous research in the general population shows SLEs to be associated with lower volumes in the hippocampus, 25 parahippocampal gurys, 25 insular cortex, 26 and anterior cingulate/prefrontal cortex 25,44 . Our results suggesting SLEs to be associated with reduced volume in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex in women, are in line with animal models suggesting that estrogen promotes stress sensitivity in the prefrontal cortex among females 45 .…”

“…42,43 Previous research in the general population shows SLEs to be associated with lower volumes in the hippocampus, 25 parahippocampal gurys, 25 insular cortex, 26 and anterior cingulate/prefrontal cortex. 25,44 Our results suggesting SLEs to be associated with reduced volume in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex in women, are in line with animal models suggesting that estrogen promotes stress sensitivity in the prefrontal cortex among females. 45 We also found SLEs to be associated with lower volumes of somatic motor areas among those with a history of psychiatric disease, in line with evidence suggesting a disruption of motor cortical brain regions by stress.…”

Regional gray matter volume mediates the relationship between neuroticism and depressed emotion

“…Previous longitudinal study has demonstrated that life events, especially stressful life events, can affect brain structure within just 3 months ( Papagni et al, 2011 ). For example, researchers found that the GMV of the prefrontal cortex decreased in those who experienced stressful sexual events ( Ansell et al, 2012 ; Ringwald et al, 2022 ). Another study found that individuals who had experienced childhood maltreatment have significantly increased GMV in the dmPFC ( Chaney et al, 2014 ).…”

Brain Changes Linked to Cognitive Symptomatology in Homeless Youth

“…Smaller cortical volumes, particularly lower gray matter volume, have been connected to increased substance abuse risk ( Weiland et al, 2014 ), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( Li et al, 2022 ), risky driving ( Mas-Cuesta et al, 2022 ), and disruptive behavior disorders ( Waller et al, 2020 ). In healthy adults, ACEs were linked to higher reductions in gray matter volume over 2 years ( Ringwald et al, 2022 ). However, the status of specific brain regions which could impact important cognitive functions in YEH remains unclear.…”