Neuroprotective Effects of Motherhood on Brain Function in Late Life: A Resting-State fMRI Study.

ABSTRACT: The maternal brain undergoes structural and functional plasticity during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Little is known about functional plasticity outside caregiving-specific contexts and whether changes persist across the lifespan. Structural neuroimaging studies suggest that parenthood may confer a protective effect against the aging process; however, it is unknown whether parenthood is associated with functional brain differences in late life. We examined the relationship between resting-state functional connectivity and number of children parented in 220 healthy older females (73.82 ± 3.53 years) and 252 healthy older males (73.95 ± 3.50 years). We compared the patterns of resting-state functional connectivity with 3 different models of age-related functional change to assess wh

SUBMITTER: Orchard ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7906778 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature