NURS 6501: Final Exam: Please contact Assignment Samurai for help with NURS 6501: Final Exam or any other assignment. Email: assignmentsamurai@gmail.com   Which brain structure is most notably affected by increased cortisol levels in depression? Group of answer choices

• Amygdala
• Basal ganglia
• Hippocampus
• Cerebellum

The correct answer is: Hippocampus   Explanation: In depression, chronic elevated cortisol levels (due to hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis) have a neurotoxic effect, particularly on the:

• Hippocampus – A key structure for memory, emotion regulation, and stress response.
  • Prolonged cortisol exposure leads to hippocampal atrophy (shrinking) via:
    • Neuronal apoptosis (cell death).
    • Reduced neurogenesis (decreased BDNF).

Why Not the Others?

• Amygdala: While hyperactive in depression (contributing to fear/anxiety), it is less vulnerable to cortisol-induced atrophy.
• Basal ganglia: More associated with motor control/reward processing; atrophy here is linked to Parkinson’s, not depression.
• Cerebellum: Primarily involved in motor coordination; not a primary target in depression.

Clinical Relevance: Hippocampal atrophy correlates with worse depressive symptoms and cognitive deficits (e.g., memory impairment). Antidepressants may reverse some atrophy by promoting neurogenesis. Thus, the hippocampus is the most notably affected structure.