Not Having Children and Late Menopause Decrease Memory Loss
Tuesday June 24, 2003
I found it in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, which was sitting in my doctor's office. It's on the web... The article was called "Nulliparity and Late Menopause are Associated with Decreased Cognitive Decline." I never saw it publicized in the mainstream press (maybe because no one knows what nulliparity means). What these scientists claim is that women who have children are protected from memory loss. They also said the same thing about women who go through menopause late in life. They say it has something to do with estrogen, but I am confused on this point. What do people think of this? Join this discussion
Comments
Title says NOT having children DECREASES memory loss; Body says HAVING children PROTECTS memory. Title appears to be correct, body in error. Children dull your brainpower.
What I saw when I read (and reread and studied and reread it again–something I never had to do in the past and is totally disturbing)the abstract was this: The MORE estrogen you were exposed to over the course of your lifetime either due to late menopause or no children, the less bonkers you get. I saw another abstract suggesting this holds true from childhood on. (ie: 8, 12 yrs.) My memory has never been great, but now it’s abysmal. I’m 41. I have 3 kids. Early peri. has been here for 3-4 yrs. now. The theory works for me.
I’m not doctor, but when I had my kids I noticed right away a change in my brain power. I was removed from my own self to a large degree, with the main portion of my mind on my child/ren. Initially, the child had 100% of my attention. Gradually, that decreased. But, consider that most women with children are going through menopause during the teen years ~ which is enough to make anyone go bonkers (man or woman). It is a time when we become more and more worried about our budding adults because they are experiencing life on their own for the first time, and we’re in the process of setting them free. It’s a scary time, and our minds once again return to their well being, often 100% of the time ~ will they live through this? Will they drink and drive? Will she get pregnant?
So to make a blanket statement that hormones are affecting a mom differently than a women with no children, which then affects the brain, is a bit sketchy to my way of thinking. A mom and a childless woman have completely different concerns, a completely different focus … there is absolutely no comparison in my view.
I have to agree with Veronica. I am a women who never bore a child, but am a mother through adoption and my memory is aweful too. With a teen ager to worry about and all the crazy anxiety and mood swings from the perimenopause stage I have trouble keeping up with even the simplist things. However, like Veronica said women with no children at this stage may fair better if they have less people to guide and care for and can focus more on their own needs.