Pregnancy, a wonderful and fascinating experience, entails many changes in the woman's body.
Besides the familiar physical changes, new studies indicate a surprising effect of pregnancy on the aging process.
A groundbreaking study conducted at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) opens a window to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between pregnancy and aging.
The results of the study present a surprising picture, and show that a decrease in biological age may occur after childbirth, and even lead women to return to a younger age than before pregnancy.
The journey into research:
The study followed 68 women over a significant period of time, both during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Their biological age is measured using "epigenetic clocks" - an advanced biochemical tool that allows an accurate assessment of a person's age based on changes in DNA.
Analysis of the research findings revealed a fascinating picture:
- Pregnancy and aging: During pregnancy, an increase of two years was observed on average in the women's biological age.
It is possible that factors such as stress, hormonal changes and physical load contribute to this increase. - Postpartum surprise: After the birth, a surprising turn occurred.
The biological age of the women began to decrease significantly, and even reached lower levels than before pregnancy for some of them.
This decline continued over a period of up to eight years, while raising many questions and doubts about its causes and consequences. - Breastfeeding as an increasing factor: Women who breastfed after giving birth enjoyed a sharper decrease in their biological age compared to women who did not breastfeed.
It is possible that breastfeeding contributes to speeding up the process of recovery and regeneration in the body after birth. - BMI effect: Women with a high BMI before pregnancy showed a smaller decrease in their biological age after childbirth.
It is possible that metabolic and genetic factors influence the rate of recovery after pregnancy.
This research opens a door to a new world of possibilities.
In-depth analysis of these findings, development of innovative treatments and personalized approaches, may lead to a healthier future for women all over the world.
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References:
https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(24)00079-2
