Women who breastfeed exhibit cognitive benefits after age 50.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Women who breastfeed may experience long-term benefits for their health in addition to the more widely appreciated effects on the breastfed child. Breastfeeding may induce long-term effects on biopsychosocial systems implicated in brain health. Also, due to diminished breastfeeding in the postindustrial era, it is important to understand the lifespan implications of breastfeeding for surmising maternal phenotypes in our species' collective past. Here, we assess how women's breastfeeding history relates to postmenopausal cognitive performance.

Methodology

A convenience sample of Southern California women age 50+ was recruited via two clinical trials, completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and answered a questionnaire about reproduc

SUBMITTER: Fox M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8573189 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature