This may be surprising as being a mother means ‘sleepless nights’ and ‘stressed-out days.
’ However, a study suggests that having children may make mothers mentally sharper later in life.
Based on the MRI scans of over 12,000 patients, mothers have ‘younger’ brains than those who have never had kids.
Even those in middle age, their brains are about 6 months younger. The study also suggests that having up to five children appears to be better.
Doctors believe that mothers may benefit from the hormone estrogen, which is produced during pregnancy, or strengthened immune system from carrying a baby.
Dr. Ann-Marie de Lange, one of the authors of the study from the University of Oslo, said: “When you look at factors which affect how we age, having children appears to make a difference.
“Women who have children may benefit from positive effects later in life, which may arise because hormones or immune factors related to pregnancy and childbirth have a protective effect against brain ageing.”
The study used brain scans of middle-aged patients, with an average age of 54, and over 9,500 were mothers.
Experts analyzed their brains according to their grey matter and volume, including the parts vital for memory, such as the hippocampus. It was found that mothers’ brains were around 6 months younger than non-mothers.
The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
One internet user commented: “No, it’s just having to be one step ahead of the kids all the time, giving exercise to the brain.”
Another wrote: “Yeah, right. If so, then why do most mums act like they’ve been lobotomised.”
A third said: “10 years on since my first…..still waiting for this sharpening to come in, haha.”
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