Reproductive Experience may Positively Adjust the Trajectory of Senescence

Kinsley, Craig Howard; Franssen, R. Adam; Meyer, Elizabeth

doi:10.1007/7854_2011_123

Cited by 22 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 160 publications

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“…Conversely, decreased fMRI activation in the prefrontal cortex is correlated with difficulties adjusting to parenthood (Laurent & Ablow, 2011;Swain et al, 2008). Neural changes in early motherhood are likely to have evolved to assist in the dual survival of parent and young (Kinsley, Franssen, & Meyer, 2011). Three recent studies have shown maternal cortical thickness changes in the prefrontal cortex across pregnancy and the early post-partum period (Hoekzema et al, 2017;Kim et al, 2018;Kim et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortical changes associated with parenthood are present in late life

Orchard

Ward

Sforazzini

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Early parenthood results in changes in cortical thickness in regions related to parental care. However, the enduring effects of this period on the structure of the human brain, and cognition in late-life, is unknown. In an elderly sample, we examined the relationship between the number of children parented (here, 1-6 children) and cortical thickness in 267 males (74.0 ±3.5 years) and 231 females (73.8±3.5 years). We also compared cognition and cortical thickness between parents of one child and non-parents, in n=36 males (73.4±3.7 years), and n=46 females (72.8 ±3.3 years). We obtained a positive relationship between number of children parented and verbal memory performance, showing increasing memory performance with number of children. For mothers, number of children positively correlated with cortical thickness in the parahippocampal gyrus and negatively correlated with regions of the visual cortex. Mothers of one child showed thinner cortical thickness in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and visual cortex compared with childless women.Fathers of one child showed thinner cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex and thicker cortical thickness in the temporal pole compared with childless men. Our results are the first to reveal distributed differences in cortical thickness related to parenthood that are evident beyond the postpartum period. Our findings overlap substantially with the areas found to be altered across pregnancy and the postpartum period, suggesting that neural changes associated with early parenthood persist into older age, and are potentially cognitively beneficial.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortical changes associated with parenthood are present in late life

Orchard

Ward

Sforazzini

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…Likewise, primiparous female rats during the late postpartum period outperform nulliparous females on spatial tasks despite comparable levels of cell proliferation and reduced cell survival (Kinsley et al, 1999; Darnaudery et al, 2007; Leuner et al, 2007; Pawluski and Galea, 2007; Hillerer et al, 2014). Studies examining spatial cognition in the post-weaning period have found that both primiparous and multiparous mothers exhibit enhanced spatial learning and memory compared to nulliparous rats even well into aging (Kinsley et al, 1999; Gatewood et al, 2005; Lemaire et al, 2006; Pawluski et al, 2006a; Pawluski et al, 2006b; Macbeth et al, 2008; Paris and Frye, 2008; Kinsley et al, 2012; Cost et al, 2014). But as in the late postpartum period, cell proliferation levels in primiparous rats are not significantly different than nulliparous rats (Leuner et al, 2007).…”

Section: Functional Consequences Of Altered Neurogenesis During Prmentioning

confidence: 99%

The birth of new neurons in the maternal brain: Hormonal regulation and functional implications

Leuner

Sabihi

2016

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

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The maternal brain is remarkably plastic and exhibits multifaceted neural modifications. Neurogenesis has emerged as one of the mechanisms by which the maternal brain exhibits plasticity. This review highlights what is currently known about peripartum-associated changes in adult neurogenesis and the underlying hormonal mechanisms. We also consider the functional consequences of neurogenesis in the peripartum brain and extent to which this process may play a role in maternal care, cognitive function and postpartum mood. Finally, while most work investigating the effects of parenting on adult neurogenesis has focused on mothers, a few studies have examined fathers and these results are also discussed.

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“…To this end, we also demonstrated higher growth factor expression and greater antioxidant defenses in naïve multiparous mice. Parabiosis of pregnant mice with nonpregnant female controls confers a regenerative benefit in virgin muscle, and emerging data suggest reproductive experience bestows lifelong benefits (20). Whereas nulliparous mice exhibited sharp reductions in systemic IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations, bFGF and VEGF concentrations remained relatively elevated in multiparous mice following stroke.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiparity improves outcomes after cerebral ischemia in female mice despite features of increased metabovascular risk

Ritzel

Patel

Spychala

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Females show a varying degree of ischemic sensitivity throughout their lifespan, which is not fully explained by hormonal or genetic factors. Epidemiological data suggest that sex-specific life experiences such as pregnancy increase stroke risk. This work evaluated the role of parity on stroke outcome. Age-matched virgin (i.e., nulliparous) and multiparous mice were subjected to 60 min of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion and evaluated for infarct volume, behavioral recovery, and inflammation. Using an established mating paradigm, fetal microchimeric cells present in maternal mice were also tracked after parturition and stroke. Parity was associated with sedentary behavior, weight gain, and higher triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The multiparous brain exhibited features of immune suppression, with dampened baseline microglial activity. After acute stroke, multiparous mice had smaller infarcts, less glial activation, and less behavioral impairment in the critical recovery window of 72 h. Behavioral recovery was significantly better in multiparous females compared with nulliparous mice 1 mo after stroke. This recovery was accompanied by an increase in poststroke angiogenesis that was correlated with improved performance on sensorimotor and cognitive tests. Multiparous mice had higher levels of VEGF, both at baseline and after stroke. GFP + fetal cells were detected in the blood and migrated to areas of tissue injury where they adopted endothelial morphology 30 d after injury. Reproductive experience has profound and complex effects on neurovascular health and disease. Inclusion of female mice with reproductive experience in preclinical studies may better reflect the life-long patterning of ischemic stroke risk in women.sex differences | multiparity | microglia | ischemic stroke | microchimerism N early 800,000 people in the United States experience a new or recurrent stroke each year, and 55,000 more women than men are affected by stroke (1). Stroke is a sexually dimorphic disease impacted by genetics, hormones, and the environment (2). According to CDC data, 85% of women in the United States have given birth by age 40, whereas the number of lifetime pregnancies per woman varies by race and socioeconomic status. Therefore, child-bearing women represent a significant proportion of the female population, including those at risk for stroke. Moreover, this suggests that a large proportion of the elderly female populationwho is at highest risk for stroke-may be differentially at risk. Epidemiological data suggest that increasing parity is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke and late-life vascular comorbidities, including carotid atherosclerosis (3, 4). However, recent reports suggest that parity has a significant protective effect against CVD mortality (5). The effect of parity on outcome following ischemic stroke is yet unresolved.Pregnancy induces profound acute and long-term physiological changes in the body that influence future vascular health through hormonally med...

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Reproductive Experience may Positively Adjust the Trajectory of Senescence

Cited by 22 publications

References 160 publications

Cortical changes associated with parenthood are present in late life

Cortical changes associated with parenthood are present in late life

The birth of new neurons in the maternal brain: Hormonal regulation and functional implications

Multiparity improves outcomes after cerebral ischemia in female mice despite features of increased metabovascular risk

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