Stress hormones underlie Indigenous health gap in Australia
The researchers have found young adult Indigenous people they tested show impaired secretion of the stress hormone cortisol and that their biological stress response is linked to the racial discrimination they experience. Professor Zoltan Sarnyai led the team of scientists from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at JCU. In their study published in the journal Scientific Reports , the team showed for the first time that the biologically important 'morning rise' of cortisol that prepares us to effectively deal with the daily hassles and stresses of life is missing in otherwise healthy Indigenous young adults. Dr Sarnyai said cortisol concentration in the blood should be within a certain range. "Too little or too much of it is dangerous for health. We can't tell why it is low in this case. One possible explanation is that previous stress, early traumatic events or even traumas of the past generation may have impaired the negative feedback...