| Title: | Enduring maternal brain changes and their role in mediating motherhood's impact on well-being |
| Journal: | Scientific Reports |
| Published: | 18 Jul 2024 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39025996/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67316-y |
Publication 12808
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Abstract
Parenthood, particularly motherhood, is known to impact the structure and function of the brain in the short term, but the long-term effects of parenthood and their impacts on well-being are still poorly understood. This study explores the potential longer-term associations between parenthood and the brain, parenthood and well-being, and the potential role of brain modifications in influencing mothers' well-being. Using data from the UK Biobank, which includes brain imaging information from individuals aged 45-82 at the MRI scanning, we discovered differences in brain structure between mothers and non-mothers, with mothers exhibiting widely distributed higher gray matter density, particularly strong in frontal and occipital regions. No brain changes were observed in fathers. Parents reported a higher sense of life's meaning compared to their childless counterparts. Gray matter changes did not mediate the relationship between motherhood and well-being. This suggests that the alterations in gray matter associated with motherhood do not play a deterministic role in shaping long-term changes in well-being.</p>
10 Keywords
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Brain
- Female
- Gray Matter
- Humans
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mothers
6 Authors
- Valentina Rotondi
- Michele Allegra
- Ridhi Kashyap
- Nicola Barban
- Maria Sironi
- Carlo Reverberi
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health