Science · 2026-10-19 · Afternoon briefing

Pregnancy’s lasting neurological signatures confirmed

Pregnancy leaves lasting signatures on the brain and body. Beyond adaptations to the cardiovascular and immune systems, often orchestrated by the placenta, many people experience a reduction in brain volume during gestation. In animal models, studies on rats show that the production of new neurons decreases during pregnancy and the early postpartum period, with subtle variations between first and second pregnancies.

The field has advanced since early work, such as a 2000 study by neuroscientist Liisa Galea on memory and hippocampal volume changes. Yet researchers still face obstacles in convincing the scientific community of the topic's importance. A landmark 2017 paper on the subject by neuroscientist Susana Carmona, for example, did not have an easy path to publication, a common challenge for research focused on women's health.

Some of the most profound changes remain the least understood. Cells from a fetus can linger in a mother's body for decades after a pregnancy has concluded. How these cells contribute to long-term health is still unknown.

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• Understanding Neurological Issues in Pregnancy: Causes, Care, and Coping Strategies

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