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Stress is an integral part of our daily lives. The level of sensitivity/vulnerability to stress, and thus, the magnitude of reaction/response, is crucial for the ultimate impact it has on us. Stress can be a mobilizing factor having beneficial effects, but beyond a certain limit it becomes our proverbial ball and chain. One of the negative effects that stress has on us is impairment of cognitive functions. In this chapter we will discuss currently available strategies of protection of cognitive functions against the negative impact of stress, as well as those being developed. Antidepressants are currently used for the treatment of cognitive impairments caused by stress, and there are attempts to use new anticonvulsants. However, both these groups of drugs cause a number of side effects, and there are several contraindications to their use. Therefore, our own search for an effective treatment headed toward natural products. First, we used Hypericum perforatum extract, then the well-known adaptogen Ginkgo biloba extract was examined, and we have also shown some protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids. Beneficial effects of angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockers have been shown as pharmacological agents. But the most interesting results were obtained after the use of ciproxifan, a H3 receptor antagonist. Other agents that could possibly be considered for alleviation of stress-induced memory impairment are curcumin, saffron extract, and canabinoids.Pursuing some of the above research lines might bring discovery of cheap, harmless, and easy to use cure for the ever-increasing burden of stress-induced memory loss.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-17103-6_10

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