Pregnancy and breastfeeding are associated with less later-life cognitive decline in a longitudinal, prospective cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The brains of female mammals evolved to undergo structural and functional changes during pregnancy and lactation, equipping them for motherhood. However, long-term cognitive health implications of these adaptations in women are poorly understood.

Methods

In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Memory Study (WHIMS; n = 7427) and WHI Study of Cognitive Aging (WHISCA; n = 2304), postmenopausal women completed reproductive history interviews, annual global cognitive assessment from mean age 70 for up to 13 years, and multi-domain cognitive testing for up to 8 years.

Results

Each additional month pregnant was associated with higher scores of global cognition. Each additional month of breastfeeding corresponded to higher scores of global cognition, verbal memory

SUBMITTER: Fox MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12778429 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature