Bruce McEwen

Bruce McEwen

Bruce McEwen during an interview with NCCIH

Bruce Sherman McEwen (January 17, 1938 – January 2, 2020) was an American neuroscientist known for his pioneering research on the effects of stress on the brain. His work significantly advanced the understanding of how stress hormones affect the nervous system and contribute to mental health disorders.

Early Life and Education

Bruce McEwen was born in New York City, New York. He attended Oberlin College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in chemistry in 1959. He then pursued his PhD in cell biology at The Rockefeller University, completing it in 1964 under the mentorship of Alfred E. Mirsky.

Career and Research

McEwen spent the majority of his career at The Rockefeller University, where he was a professor and head of the Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology. His research focused on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the role of glucocorticoids in the brain.

Stress and the Brain

McEwen discussing stress research

McEwen's groundbreaking work demonstrated that stress hormones, such as cortisol, can have both protective and damaging effects on the brain. He introduced the concept of "allostatic load" to describe the cumulative burden of chronic stress and its impact on health.

His research showed that chronic stress can lead to neuroplasticity changes in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, areas of the brain involved in memory, emotion, and decision-making. These findings have implications for understanding anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Awards and Honors

Bruce McEwen received numerous awards for his contributions to neuroscience, including the Pasarow Award in Neuropsychiatry, the Endocrine Society's Fred Conrad Koch Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Gold Medal Award from the Society of Biological Psychiatry.

Personal Life

McEwen was married to Karen Bulloch, a fellow scientist, and they had two children. He was known for his passion for music and played the cello in his spare time.

Legacy

Bruce McEwen's work has had a lasting impact on the field of neuroscience, particularly in the study of stress and its effects on the brain. His research continues to influence the development of treatments for stress-related disorders.

Related Pages

• Neuroscience
• Stress (biology)
• Neuroendocrinology
• Allostasis