“High estrogen is essential for learning, memory and overall brain health,” says Dr. Tallie Z. Baram. “But when severe stress hits, the same mechanisms that normally help the brain adapt can backfire, locking in long-lasting memory problems.” Steve Zylius / UC Irvine
- Severe stress, as experienced in natural disasters and mass shootings, can cause long-lasting memory problems, and high levels of estrogen in the brain can make women particularly vulnerable.
- Different estrogen receptors in males and females help explain sex differences in stress-related memory disorders.
- Research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, identifies potential targets for sex-specific therapies.
Findings of UC Irvine-led study could lead to new ways of addressing PTSD, dementia
February 5, 2026 – Irvine, Calif. — Experiencing multiple acute stresses at the same time, as in natural disasters or mass shootings, can leave lasting memory scars. New research from the University of California, Irvine suggests that levels of estrogen in the brain may play a surprising role in this vulnerability, especially for women. The study, published today in Neuron, provides insight into why women are more likely than men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and face higher dementia risk later in life.
Led by Dr. Tallie Z. Baram, Distinguished Professor of pediatrics, anatomy & neurobiology, and neurology at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine, the research found that exposure to several simultaneous stressors can lead to persistent memory problems, difficulty recalling events and heightened responses to reminders of trauma. These impairments can last for weeks or months, whereas a single stressful event does not produce the same effects…