Question: Why does cortisol have such profound effects on one’s emotions and memory?

Answer: Cortisol affects almost every cell in the body, including brain cells. For example, cortisol targets a brain area called the hippocampus that is importantly involved in the process of storing experiences as memories. Normal amounts of cortisol are probably necessary for normal hippocampal function, but excessive amounts cause hippocampal cells to die. It was thought until recently that this was a permanent injury, but recent evidence suggests that these cells can regenerate in time. The neurochemical basis of our emotions is even less well understood. Cortisol is involved in the response to stresses of many kinds, as are our emotions. Cortisol seems to unmask or aggravate the symptoms of depression. The majority of patients with Cushing’s disease, interestingly, have close blood relatives who suffer from depression or alcoholism. It may even be that some cases of Cushing’s disease represent a rare complication of having that genetic background. In any event, the effects of Cushing’s syndrome on emotion and memory largely disappear with the other symptoms of the disorder once it is cured.

By Dr. David Orth MD (Summer, 2000)