Women Have Greater Memory Loss During Pregnancy

Pregnant women have a lot to think about. They have to think about their health, the health of the baby, when the baby is coming, what's going to happen when the baby comes, etc. So, it's easy to be pretty forgetful with all of that going on. However, new studies have shown that pregnant women may not be forgetful because they have a lot on their minds, but rather, because their pregnant bodily biology may be messing with their memory.


Current studies have shown that elevated hormone levels that come with being pregnant can have an effect on the functions of the brain, which can lead to memory loss during the nine months of pregnancy. Tests taken between pregnant women and non-pregnant women went on to show that women in the later trimesters not only had more anxiety than women who were not pregnant, but that they also had worse memory via memory test scores. These results lead researchers to realize that the cause was more than just the hectic lifestyle of pregnant women.


Researchers placed the blame on high levels of sex hormones that go through the bodies of pregnant women. These hormones help women during the pregnancy but studies have now shown that they also hindered the woman's ability to remember. This sounds like a serious issue for women who plan on getting pregnant or are already pregnant, but the research also went on to show that the memory issues only take place during the nine months of pregnancy. Three months after the birth of the baby, hormone levels return back to normal along with memory. This is a relief for the millions of soon to be mothers as it now gives them some insight as to why they can't remember certain information.

Cutting Calories May Help Maintain Memory

Cutting calories is a great way to keep the body in shape, but research has now shown that it may also be a way to improve memory and mental health. Cutting down on calories and having a healthier diet has always been seen as a way to help the brain function more efficiently, but what researchers found through a study was a possible connection between dieting and improved memory. A study was conducted with three different groups of individuals with an average age of around 60. The first group cut their daily intake of calories by 30%, the second group increased their calorie intake day to day, and the third group acted as a control and didn’t change anything regarding their diets.

Participants had their memories tested before changing their diets and then again months after completing the study. The research showed that the seniors who cut down on their calorie intake had higher scores regarding verbal memory than the other groups. This presents and interesting link between a good diet and improved memory, but some scientists are still skeptical. Many argue that the testing group was still too small and that the testing didn’t show if the memory improvement lasted over time or just day to day. However, aside from this study, cutting down on calories is generally linked with a higher level of physical fitness and ultimately a healthier lifestyle which includes a healthy brain.