Pregnancy and motherhood trigger profound hormonal, structural, and functional changes in the brain, reshaping neural circuits to support caregiving and maternal behaviors. Recent evidence reveals ...

Inflammatory cytokines disrupt neurotransmitters, HPA axis, and neuroplasticity, driving mental health issues. The "6S" framework to managing inflammation involving sugar, sleep and others may ...

However, in chronic stress, cortisol levels remain high. Chronic activation of the HPA axis leads to its dysregulation. Also, stress leads to inflammation via pro-inflammatory cytokines.

This type of self-regulating feedback loop is called homeostasis. The HPA axis follows a circadian rhythm, in which cortisol levels are naturally high in the morning and low at night.

Chronic stress dysregulates the HPA axis, leading to excess levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in the body. Elevated stress hormone levels can disrupt almost all of the body’s functions.

Adrenal steroidogenesis is under the control of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Furthermore, metabolic factors including insulin and obesity-related signals may play a role in ...