A new large-scale study has found that raising children may have a lasting positive effect on the brain. Researchers analyzed data from more than 37,000 men and women in the UK Biobank and found that parents retain higher functional connectivity in the brain in adulthood.
This is especially noticeable in areas responsible for movement and sensory perception. Activity in these regions usually declines with age, but remains at a higher level in parents. The effect was found in both women and men, suggesting that it is not due only to pregnancy, but to the process of raising children itself.
Similar results had previously been obtained in animal experiments: caring for offspring led to brain changes that improved cognitive functions. Now this effect has also been confirmed in humans. The researchers suggest that parenthood may slow brain aging, helping the brain remain active for longer.
This finding offers a new perspective on the role of parenthood, not only socially but also biologically. Caring for children is not only a responsibility, but may also be one factor that helps preserve brain health.
