Experiencing racism may physically change your brain
Recent research suggests that racism, both in daily life and in healthcare, may contribute to health disparities for Black communities. Scientists are now investigating whether racism can physically alter the brain, potentially explaining the higher risk of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease among Black individuals.
Negar Fani, a clinical neuroscientist at Emory University, has collaborated with Nate Harnett, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, to study how the brain responds to traumatic events and extreme stress, including those related to racism. Fani’s research focuses on individuals experiencing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), shedding light on the impact of racism on brain function.
Measuring the impact of societal-scale issues on individuals is a complex task, as Harnett acknowledges. However, he has found indirect ways to assess the effects of structural racism on the brain. By examining inequities in neighborhood resources as proxy measures of structural racism, researchers can correlate these with brain and behavioral responses to stress or trauma, providing insights into the psychological impact of racism.
In one study, Harnett and Fani observed correlations between racial discrimination and the response to threat in Black women who had experienced trauma. They found that individuals who had experienced racial discrimination alongside PTSD showed increased activation in areas related to emotion regulation, indicating a distinct brain response compared to those experiencing PTSD alone.
These findings suggest that individuals who have experienced racial discrimination may exhibit altered brain responses, potentially contributing to long-term health disparities. The research underscores the need to address racism at both individual and systemic levels to mitigate its impact on mental and physical health.
