Stress hormone affects the mind and body

FGF21 has been studied for more than twenty years as a regulator of metabolism, glucose levels, and diabetes risk. However, it has now become clear that this hormone also reacts to psychological experiences, linking the emotional state with the biochemical processes of the body and influencing the rate of biological aging.

“This is the first confirmation that FGF21 responds to mental stress in humans. It acts as a hormonal bridge between the body and the mind,” explains Martin Picard, PhD, professor of behavioral medicine and co-director of the Columbia Science of Health program.

In the experiment, the researchers observed changes in hormonal levels after stress in both healthy volunteers and patients with mitochondrial disorders, genetic pathologies that prevent cells from producing energy.

In healthy participants, FGF21 concentrations decreased sharply immediately after stress exposure, and then returned to normal within an hour and a half. This dynamic response indicates a subtle regulation of the hormone.

In people with mitochondrial dysfunction, the reaction was the opposite: FGF21 levels increased and peaked after 90 minutes. This indicates a different nature of the stress response, depending on the energy state of the cells.

“We see a new axis of vulnerability: the social environment and psychological experiences directly affect mitochondrial health, which means metabolic risks and chronic diseases,” says Mangesh Kurade, lead author of the study.

To confirm the findings, the team analyzed data from more than 20,000 participants in the British Biobank, as well as the results of their own MiSBIE project (Mitochondrial Stress and Biomarkers in Emotion). It turned out that loneliness, childhood violence, or separation from a partner are associated with increased FGF21 levels. On the contrary, strong social ties, support, and relationship satisfaction correlated with his decline.

“FGF21 reflects not only acute stress, but also the quality of a person’s social life. This is a biomarker that tells us how we live and feel over time,” adds Michio Hirano, Professor of neurology.

These results open up the possibility of using FGF21 as a new tool for assessing a person’s psychophysiological state, from metabolic health to stress response.

According to the authors, the work combines two areas — metabolism and the neurobiology of stress — and brings medicine closer to personalized mental health strategies, where emotional well-being and physical well-being are considered as a single system.

“We’re starting to see a holistic picture of how experiences, relationships, and stress turn into biochemistry. This is a step towards a new understanding of human health,” concludes Picard.