Pregnancy, Breastfeeding Linked to Women's Cognitive Health

A new study led by University of California, Los Angeles anthropology professor Molly Fox, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, found that pregnancy and breastfeeding are linked with stronger long-term cognitive ability in postmenopausal women. The research, which analyzed data from over 7,000 women, indicates that increased cumulative time spent pregnant and breastfeeding correlates with greater cognition, verbal memory, and visual memory later in life. While the observed effects are modest, they are comparable to other known protective factors against cognitive decline. This discovery is significant given that women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer s disease. The study was funded in part by the United States===National Institutes of Health, including the United States===National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the United States===National Institute on Aging. Researchers are now working to identify the mechanisms behind these protective effects to develop new therapies.