Have Last Baby After 35 To Get Sharper

Women have better brainpower after menopause if they had their last baby after age 35, according to a new study. The study suggests that the same will be true for those who used hormonal contraceptives for over 10 years, or began their menstrual cycle before turning 13. This is the first study to investigate the association between age at last pregnancy, which can be a marker of a later surge of pregnancy related hormones, and cognitive function in later life. Based on the findings, researchers would certainly not recommend that women wait until they are 35 to close their family, but the study provides strong evidence that there is a positive association between later age at last pregnancy and late life cognition. The main hormones at play are estrogen and progesterone. In animal studies, estrogen has a beneficial impact on brain chemistry, function and structure; progesterone is linked with growth and development of brain tissue.