WE ALL know stress can take its toll on the body, but how many of us have thought about what effect it can have on our aging brains?

The aging brain and the negative impacts of prolonged mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression were on the table for discussion as Warwick's mental health professionals sat down for a networking dinner last week.

30 members of the Warwick Mental Health Professionals Network gathered at Cafe Jacqui's to mingle, discuss and hear from guest speaker Dr Heather Ward on the topic of the aging brain.

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Dr Ward educated the gathered mental health professionals on the effects of stress on various parts of the brain, and how it can impair even the most basic of brain functions.

"Mental illness will not only make us feel really bad, it can affect our ability to get up in the morning and shower and sleeping can become impaired," she said.

"Heightened stress results in anxiety and if that anxiety continues it becomes depression."

Using findings from research and examples of studies, Mrs Ward was able to share comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge with the GPs, social workers and other professionals in the room.

Speaking of one particular study, the guest speaker told the guests about how depressed people can be virtually unresponsive some stimulants such as watching TV shows.

"The whole brain is basically shut down - it's no responding at all," she said.

"The implications for older people are they are more likely to experience contributing factors of mental illness such as physical illness and personal loss.

"They are less likely to recognise the symptoms and less likely to seek support than younger people."

It's not all bad news for older people though, with plenty of easy ways to wind down and de-stress the mind.

"The science is now undeniably in supporting exercises and meditation," Mrs Ward said.

"Meditation has been shown to alter the brain."

The Warwick Mental Health Professionals Network meets four times a year with a focus on sharing information, according to co-ordinator Kathryn Walton.

"The intention is to bring professionals together who work in mental health, to share information," she said.

"The feedback is pretty positive - we're looking at working better together collaboratively.

"We've got a couple of hundred members on the database but we're mainly targeting GPs, psychologists, occupational therapists who work in mental health and mental health nurses."