Yes, it is pretty well established that cortisol causes the hippocampus to shrink [1]. Studies also show that the hippocampus shrinkage in PTSD is reversible wi

Yes, it is pretty well established that cortisol causes the hippocampus to shrink [1]. Studies also show that the hippocampus shrinkage in PTSD is reversible with treatment [2]. That is just one example, but there are quite a lot of other long-term structural changes in the brain after chronic stress. [1] http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(03)00634-6/abstract http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-322... [2] http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/0006-3223(92)90079-F/abstract http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/0006-3223...