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BABY-BRAIN-PREGNANT-WOMEN
“Baby brain” cognitive impairment in pregnant women real: Aussie
researchers
SYDNEY, Jan. 15, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – The pregnancy-induced haze of
forgetfulness reported by many women is a measurable and significant
condition, Australian researchers have found.
Their study of the phenomenon, also known as “baby brain”, showed that
“overall cognitive functioning was poorer in pregnant women than in non-
pregnant women” and more research was needed to determine its impact on
expectant mothers’ daily lives, said the Deakin University researchers in a
report published in The Medical Journal of Australia and released on Monday.
The cognitive impairment associated with “baby brain” includes memory
problems, reading difficulties, confusion, disorientation, poor
concentration, increased absentmindedness and reduced motor coordination,
said the researchers, whose studies involved more than 700 pregnant and 520
non-pregnant women.
“The differences primarily develop during the first trimester, and are
consistent with recent findings of long term reductions in brain grey matter
volume during pregnancy. The impact of these effects on the quality of life
and everyday functioning of pregnant women requires further investigation,”
wrote Dr Melissa Hayden and her co-authors.
How pregnancy results in these impairments, as well as whether memory and
cognitive function return to pre-partum performance levels after giving birth
also remains unclear, said the researchers.
They recommended that “future research adopt a longitudinal design to
clarify the progression of these cognitive differences during pregnancy and
to establish their impact on the day-to-day cognitive functioning of pregnant
women”.
BSS/Xinhua/MSY/0943 hrs