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Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Linked to Sharper Older Minds
4 Feb
Summary
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding correlate with better cognitive function in postmenopausal women.
- Study links cumulative pregnancy/breastfeeding time to sharper memory later in life.
- Findings suggest reproductive history impacts women's cognitive aging puzzle.
New findings reveal that pregnancy and breastfeeding may contribute to improved cognitive health in later life. Research analyzed data from over 7,000 women around age 70.
Scientists discovered that a greater cumulative time spent pregnant and breastfeeding was associated with better global cognition and memory skills. For instance, women pregnant for an average of 30.5 months showed higher cognitive scores.
Each additional month of pregnancy was tied to a small increase in overall cognitive ability, while breastfeeding months showed similar gains and boosted verbal and visual memory. These effects are comparable to protective factors like not smoking.
Researchers suggest that while biological factors are likely involved, social support and healthier behaviors associated with having adult children could also play a role. The study opens new avenues for understanding women's brain health across their lifespan.
