Stress and Brain Health: Across the Life Course

Angela Clow is Emeritus Professor of Psychophysiology at the Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London. Angela is trained in neuroscience and psychology and likes to work at the interface of these disciplines exploring how mind-body links affect physical and mental health. For her PhD (Institute of Psychiatry, London) she investigated the mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs. During her post-doctoral studies (Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London) she researched the biochemistry of addiction and stress. In 1989 she joined the University of Westminster where she became a founder member of the interdisciplinary Psychophysiology and Stress Research Group. Currently she investigates the impact of environmental and psychosocial stress on the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion and consequent health outcomes. She also has an interest in evaluating strategies to reverse the negative impact of stress on health. Angela has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, 5 books, and 30 book chapters or reviews. Angela is a UK National Teaching Fellow and a frequent public speaker. Nina Smyth is Senior Lecturer in Psychology, School of Social Sciences, at the University of Westminster, London. Nina’s background is in Psychology and Health Psychology, and her research focuses on the physiological pathways linking stress, mental/physical health, aging and longevity in pre-clinical and clinical populations. For her PhD (University of Westminster), awarded in 2013, she developed optimal ways of measuring cortisol, and examined the relationships between cortisol circadian patterns, well-being and health. In 2017, she became the research lead of the interdisciplinary Psychophysiology and Stress Research Group. Currently, she is developing and evaluating lifestyle interventions to restore cortisol circadian patterns in healthy and clinical populations to prevent the negative impact of stress on health. Nina has published a good body of peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and reviews, and regularly presents her work to diverse audiences. She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Aurora champion, a leadership programme for women in science. She has been awarded funding from the British Academy, the Bial Foundation and the Sir Halley Stewart Trust. Alongside, Bath Spa University, she is currently working on the Challenge Fund HOW (Healthier Outcomes at Work) project, funding by the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Health and Social Care.

• 1. Salivary cortisol as a non-invasive window on the brainAngela Clow and Nina Smyth2. Prenatal stress: Effects on fetal and child brain developmentAlexandra Lautarescu, Michael C. Craig and Vivette Glover3. The development of stress reactivity and regulation during human developmentMelissa L. Engel and Megan R. Gunnar4. The impact of childhood poverty on brain health: Emerging evidence from neuroimaging across the lifespanAlexander J. Dufford, Pilyoung Kim and Gary W. Evans5. Psychosocial stress and epigenetic agingHelena Palma-Gudiel, Lourdes Fañanás, Steve Horvath and Anthony S. Zannas6. Effects of stress on the structure and function of the medial prefrontal cortex: Insights from animal modelsCara L. Wellman, Justin L. Bollinger and Kelly M. Moench7. Environment and early life: Decisive factors for stress-resilience and vulnerabilityAkshaya Hegde and Rupshi Mitra8. Stress, the cortisol awakening response and cognitive functionRobin Law and Angela Clow9. Effectiveness of stress relieving strategies in regulating patterns of cortisol secretion and promoting brain healthNina Smyth, Elena Rossi and Carly Wood