The brain plays a central role in stress processes, determining what individuals perceive as stressful, orchestrating coping mechanisms, and undergoing both adaptive and maladaptive changes in response to stress. The brain's plasticity is crucial in adapting to and recovering from stressful experiences, but prolonged or inappropriate responses can lead to allostatic load, which negatively impacts mental and physical health. Key brain regions involved in stress responses include the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. The hippocampus is essential for memory and cognitive functions, while the amygdala rapidizes emotional responses and the prefrontal cortex regulates these processes. Chronic stress can lead to structural and functional changes in these regions, such as dendritic atrophy and reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and increased amygdala reactivity. Social and lifestyle interventions, such as physical activity and social integration, can mitigate the effects of allostatic load and promote brain health. Future research should focus on understanding the biological pathways by which these interventions affect brain plasticity and health.The brain plays a central role in stress processes, determining what individuals perceive as stressful, orchestrating coping mechanisms, and undergoing both adaptive and maladaptive changes in response to stress. The brain's plasticity is crucial in adapting to and recovering from stressful experiences, but prolonged or inappropriate responses can lead to allostatic load, which negatively impacts mental and physical health. Key brain regions involved in stress responses include the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. The hippocampus is essential for memory and cognitive functions, while the amygdala rapidizes emotional responses and the prefrontal cortex regulates these processes. Chronic stress can lead to structural and functional changes in these regions, such as dendritic atrophy and reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and increased amygdala reactivity. Social and lifestyle interventions, such as physical activity and social integration, can mitigate the effects of allostatic load and promote brain health. Future research should focus on understanding the biological pathways by which these interventions affect brain plasticity and health.