Is “Mom Brain” Real? New UCLA Research Suggests Pregnancy May Strengthen the Brain Long-Term
Many mothers joke about “mom brain” — the mental fog that can accompany pregnancy and early postpartum life. But new research suggests that while short-term forgetfulness is real, motherhood may carry an unexpected long-term benefit: stronger cognitive function later in life.
A large study led by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia found that pregnancy and breastfeeding are associated with better memory and cognitive performance in postmenopausal women.
The research team, led by Dr. Molly Fox, associate professor of anthropology at UCLA, analyzed data from more than 7,000 women in their 70s, following them for up to 13 years to track brain aging. The goal was to better understand why women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease, beyond the fact that they tend to live longer than men.
“Any way that we can focus public health outreach or clinical interventions toward higher-risk populations leads to more effective and efficient efforts,” Fox said in a UCLA press release, emphasizing the importance of identifying protective factors for women’s brain health.
Small Changes, Meaningful Impact
The study found that each additional month of pregnancy was associated with slightly higher overall cognitive scores later in life. Breastfeeding showed similar associations, particularly with verbal and visual memory.
Women who had been pregnant at least once scored about 0.60 points higher in cognitive performance compared to those who had never been pregnant. Those who breastfed scored 0.19 points higher overall, and 0.27 points higher in verbal memory, compared to women who never breastfed.
Individually, these differences are modest. But researchers noted that their protective effect is comparable to other well-established brain-health factors, such as not smoking or staying physically active. In the context of Alzheimer’s — a disease with limited treatment options — even small reductions in risk are considered significant.
Why Might Motherhood Help the Brain?
Researchers say the exact mechanism is still being studied. Hormonal shifts during pregnancy may “reorganize” the brain in ways that improve long-term efficiency. Social factors may also play a role: parenting often increases social interaction and support networks, both linked to healthier cognitive aging.
For Latino families, where Alzheimer’s rates are projected to rise significantly in coming decades, understanding modifiable and protective factors is especially urgent.
The takeaway: postpartum brain fog may be temporary. But the neurological changes tied to motherhood could leave a lasting imprint — one that strengthens cognitive resilience decades later.