Problem: A developmental cascade can occur in cases of maltreatment when consistently high levels of stress, or a dangerous and frightening environment leads to high levels of cortisol. A key long-term impact in childhood and adolescence of high levels of cortisol appears to be __________. atypically low levels of cortisol biological aging of cells in the body, but no impact on the brain multiple structural and functional differences in brain development improvements in functioning of the HPA axis, which is the brain and body's main mechanism for dealing with stress. Need Assignment Help?