Bruce McEwen PhD Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Wellness Bruce McEwen PhD By Margot SladeReviewed: September 10, 2019Fact-Checked Alfred E Mirsky Professor and Head of the Neuroendocrinology Laboratory at the Rockefeller UniversityPhoto Courtesy of Bruce McEwenEditor's Note: Everyday Health spoke with Bruce McEwan, PhD, in September 2019. We regret that he died on January 2, 2020. A member of the Everyday Health Wellness Advisory Board, Bruce McEwen, PhD, is the former Alfred E. Mirsky Professor and head of the Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at the Rockefeller University in New York City, where he leads research on the effects of sex, stress, and hormones on the brain. A prominent neuroscientist, Dr. McEwen is widely regarded as a pioneering researcher and one of the world’s authorities on stress. In 1968, his laboratory at Rockefeller University found adrenal steroid receptors in the hippocampus — a groundbreaking discovery that put the brain front and center in our understanding of the complex interactions of acute or chronic stress and the human body. We sat down with McEwen to discuss his current work and to learn more about his perspective on wellness. What are you working on now Novel antidepressants that act rapidly on a subtype of major depression; repurposing a drug, riluzole, to slow down Alzheimer’s disease; basic research regarding the effects of stress on the brain; and sex differences in stress effects on the brain. Dr McEwen on Stress We all need to be better informed about stress What should we know to increase our stress IQ A large part of how stress affects us is through our adopting health-damaging behaviors involving diet, alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise, social isolation, and poor sleep. We need to change those behaviors. Dr McEwen on Resilience How do you define resilience Resilience is the ability to achieve a successful outcome in the face of adversity. It requires flexibility and a positive outlook based on learning from prior experience solving difficult problems. We all at one time or another have a life experience that challenges our resilience Can you describe what you learned about your own resilience after such an experience I learned to be more empathetic toward others who go through comparable experiences. It made me a better person. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Wellness What Is Lion s Mane A Beginner s Guide to This Mushroom s Healing PropertiesBy Lauren BedoskyOctober 3, 2022 7 Potential Health Benefits of Lion s Mane MushroomsFrom theoretically protecting against heart disease and diabetes to improving brain and immune health, lion’s mane mushrooms may have wellness perks to...By Lauren BedoskyOctober 3, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Biofeedback TherapyAttention to subtle changes in body functions may boost mental health, speed recovery from surgery or stroke, treat urinary incontinence, and more. Here...By Lauren BedoskySeptember 27, 2022 What Is Biofeedback Therapy A Beginner s Guide to This Health ApproachBy Lauren BedoskySeptember 27, 2022 What Is Gua Sha A Guide to This Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness PracticeBy Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 What Is Tongue Scraping A Beginner s Guide to This Oral Health TechniqueBy Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Tongue ScrapingFrom better oral health to smoother digestion, there may be reasons to incorporate this Ayurvedic tradition into your daily routine.By Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Gua ShaThis traditional Chinese medicine technique may help relieve pain, boost circulation, and improve symptoms of some diseases. Find out how.By Lauren BedoskyAugust 22, 2022 What Is Infrared Sauna Therapy A Complete Guide for BeginnersBy Jessica MigalaJune 28, 2022 5 Potential Health Benefits of Infrared Sauna TherapyFrom reducing stress to soothing inflammation and boosting post-workout recovery, this therapy may help enhance your overall wellness.By Jessica MigalaJune 28, 2022 MORE IN The 8 Best Foods for a Healthy Brain Health Maker Alex Timmons 34 Co-Owner of Mountain Trek 5 Potential Health Benefits of Biofeedback Therapy