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What mothers need to know about their Alzheimer’s risk
Mothers everywhere seem to agree…
Whether you’re the CEO of a multinational corporation, a teacher, a neurosurgeon, a famous popstar or a human rights lawyer, the accomplishment you’re most proud of is giving birth to and raising another amazing human being.
It’s more challenging than any other job you’ve taken on, but also more rewarding. I mean, what can compare to the love that exists between a mother and her child? Not a darn thing.
As any mother knows, motherhood is all about sacrifices. You’d put yourself in harm’s way to protect your child 100 percent of the time. And mother’s often do take on serious risks for the sake of their children… especially when it comes to their health.
Giving birth is hard on the body. Even more so when you give birth to many children. And women who do it put themselves at risk for depression, obesity… and, according to a new study, maybe even Alzheimer’s.
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Why a big family means a big Alzheimer’s risk for mothers
If you’ve given birth to a big family (and by big, I mean you’ve had five or more children) you might want to take extra Alzheimer’s prevention measures…
A new study published in the journal Neurology found that women who had multiple births, meaning five or more, were an alarming 70 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
The study included data from 3,549 Korean and Greek women who were about 71 years old on average.
Researchers don’t know exactly why Alzheimer’s risk is so much higher for women who’ve birthed big families. But they’re pretty certain it has something to do with hormones. Specifically, the super high estrogen levels women have toward the end of pregnancy.
There was some good news for women who experienced a hard loss during their lifetime, though…
Women who lost a child, whether through miscarriage or abortion, were half as likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
Once again, researchers believe this is due to hormones. They think estrogen levels during the first trimester of pregnancy may hit a brain-protecting sweet spot. But later in pregnancy, estrogen levels get so high that they actually harm the brain.
“Estrogen levels double by the eighth week of pregnancy before climbing to up to 40 times the normal peak level,” said study author Ki Woong Kim, MD, Ph.D., of Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea. “If these results are confirmed in other populations, it is possible that these findings could lead to the development of hormone-based preventive strategies for Alzheimer’s disease based on the hormonal changes in the first trimester of pregnancy.”
How mothers can protect themselves
Your history as a mother isn’t something you can change… nor would you want to. That’s why, if you’ve had five kids or more, you should focus on other ways to fight Alzheimer’s and counteract your increased Alzheimer’s risk.
There are many scientifically proven ways to lower Alzheimer’s risk, like:
- Getting plenty of exercise is probably the most scientifically-supported way to prevent Alzheimer’s and age-related cognitive decline. So, don’t skimp on the sweat! Exercise at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week.
- Eating healthy. The Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet have both been shown to prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
- Getting plenty of sleep. When you sleep, your brain clears out the waste that can build up and contribute to Alzheimer’s. That’s why poor sleeping patterns have been linked to an increased risk of the disease.
- Staying socially connected. Research shows maintaining close connections with friends and family can keep your Alzheimer’s risk down.
- Protecting your noggin. Serious head trauma (especially the kind that leaves you unconscious) can put you at a greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease. So, treat your brain like the precious resource it is. Wear a helmet. Buckle your seatbelt. And fall-proof your home to reduce your risk of injuring your head.
Editor’s note: While you’re doing all the right things to protect your brain as you age, make sure you don’t make the mistake 38 million Americans do every day — by taking a drug that robs them of an essential brain nutrient! Click here to discover the truth about the Cholesterol Super-Brain!
Sources:
- Pregnancy history may be tied to Alzheimer’s disease — MedicalXpress.
- Prevention — Alzheimer’s Association.
- What can you do to avoid Alzheimer’s disease? — Harvard Medical School.
By Jenny Smiechowski
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