Nisha Pandey

‘Momnesia’ Is Real: Pregnancy Forgetfulness May Be Linked To Disruption In Brain’s Memory Circuit

We may now have a clearer explanation behind ‘<span>mommy brain</span>’ or ‘<span>momnesia</span>’. Walking into a room and forgetting why you went there or losing track of a conversation is not simply a side effect of becoming a mother. 

A new study has discerned a possible explanation for the phenomenon commonly known as “momnesia,” “pregnancy brain” or “mommy brain”. The findings were published in Science Bulletin. 

According to the study, persistent high levels of estrogen during <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/syphilis-among-australian-women-has-risen-by-167-in-the-last-decade-how-it-can-affect-pregnancy-newborns-article-156173734" data-type="tilCustomLink">pregnancy</a> may disrupt a particular brain circuit involved in memory. 

Researchers found that high estrogen affected communication between the hypothalamus and hippocampus, two brain regions involved in regulating different aspects of brain function, including memory. 

<span>Pregnancy</span>-related forgetfulness is generally considered to be temporary changes in memory and cognition during pregnancy. 

Researchers say forgetfulness can become noticeable in late pregnancy stage and may continue well into the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/after-lindsay-clancy-trial-massachusetts-pushes-stronger-postpartum-mental-health-screening-article-156165684" data-type="tilCustomLink">postpartum period</a> before improving. 

Women may have trouble recalling names or words, keeping track of events or completing everyday tasks. 

According to the author of the study Dr Zheng Sun of Baylor College of Medicine, about 80% of pregnant women report these changes. The researchers say that this condition does not appear to be a decline in intelligence or cognitive ability. 

According to Reuters, Dr Yanlin He, another study leader, said, “The important point is that pregnancy does not simply make someone ‘less intelligent.’ The effects appear to be more subtle and specific to certain cognitive tasks.”

Also read: Vitamin <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/vitamin-d-pregnancy-could-vitamin-d-deficiency-increase-risk-of-premature-birth-article-156200027" data-type="tilCustomLink">D &amp; Pregnancy: Could Vitamin D Deficiency Increase Risk Of Premature Birth?</a> 

<h2>Link Between Pregnancy Hormones And Memory </h2>

During pregnancy, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/urine-leakage-when-you-cough-sneeze-or-exercise-it-could-be-pelvic-floor-dysfunction-say-experts-article-156176866" data-type="tilCustomLink">estrogen levels</a> increase drastically and reach its peak during the third trimester. 

The researchers focused on estrogen receptor alpha in neurons located in the lateral hypothalamus. In experiments based on mice who were exposed to high estrogen level conditions like in pregnancy, these neurons became more active. 

Those neurons send signals to the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory formation. The researchers found that increased activity in this region suppressed hippocampal activity and impaired performance on memory tests. 

When researchers switched off the hypothalamus-to-hippocampus pathway, the memory problems in the mice were prevented. Activating the pathway, meanwhile, impaired memory even without elevated estrogen. 

Removing estrogen receptors from the hypothalamic neurons also reversed the estrogen-related <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/scientists-grow-human-brain-tissue-inside-mice-could-this-help-cerebral-palsy-epilepsy-autism-research-article-156171838" data-type="tilCustomLink">memory problems</a> in the mice.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/preeclampsia-may-end-with-pregnancy-your-heart-risk-may-not-article-156202026" data-type="tilCustomLink">Preeclampsia May End With Pregnancy. Your Heart Risk May Not</a> 

<h2>Does Pregnancy Actually Make You Forgetful? </h2>

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The researchers also assessed memory in 70 women, including women at different stages of pregnancy and women who were not pregnant. 

Memory problems surfaced during late pregnancy stages and were linked with higher circulating estrogen levels. The researchers reported changes across several memory-related tasks. 

But it is important to note that the researchers did not directly measure or manipulate this specific brain circuit in pregnant women. That means the human findings support the mechanism observed in mice, but do not prove that exactly the same circuit causes memory changes during <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/22-year-old-frozen-embryo-produced-a-healthy-baby-does-an-embryo-have-an-expiry-date-article-156151362" data-type="tilCustomLink">human pregnancy</a>. 

The study has cemented evidence that many pregnant women experience forgetfulness, but it does not mean pregnancy causes permanent memory loss. For most women, pregnancy-related forgetfulness generally improves after childbirth.

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We may now have a clearer explanation behind ‘mommy brain’ or ‘momnesia’. Walking into a room and forgetting why you went there or losing track of a conversation is not simply a side effect of becoming a mother. A new study has discerned a possible explanation for the phenomenon commonly known as “momnesia,” “pregnancy brain” or “mommy brain”. The findings were published in Science Bulletin. According to the study, persistent high levels of estrogen during pregnancy may disrupt a particular brain circuit involved in memory. Researchers found that high estrogen affected communication between the hypothalamus and hippocampus, two brain regions involved in regulating different aspects of brain function, including memory. What Is “Momnesia”? Pregnancy-related forgetfulness is generally considered to be temporary changes in memory and cognition during pregnancy. Researchers say forgetfulness can become noticeable in late pregnancy stage and may continue well into the postpartum period before improving. Women may have trouble recalling names or words, keeping track of events or completing everyday tasks. According to the author of the study Dr Zheng Sun of Baylor College of Medicine, about 80% of pregnant women report these changes. The researchers say that this condition does not appear to be a decline in intelligence or cognitive ability. According to Reuters, Dr Yanlin He, another study leader, said, “The important point is that pregnancy does not simply make someone ‘less intelligent.’ The effects appear to be more subtle and specific to certain cognitive tasks.”Also read: Vitamin D & Pregnancy: Could Vitamin D Deficiency Increase Risk Of Premature Birth? Link Between Pregnancy Hormones And Memory During pregnancy, estrogen levels increase drastically and reach its peak during the third trimester. The researchers focused on estrogen receptor alpha in neurons located in the lateral hypothalamus. In experiments based on mice who were exposed to high estrogen level conditions like in pregnancy, these neurons became more active. Those neurons send signals to the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory formation. The researchers found that increased activity in this region suppressed hippocampal activity and impaired performance on memory tests. When researchers switched off the hypothalamus-to-hippocampus pathway, the memory problems in the mice were prevented. Activating the pathway, meanwhile, impaired memory even without elevated estrogen. Removing estrogen receptors from the hypothalamic neurons also reversed the estrogen-related memory problems in the mice.Also read: Preeclampsia May End With Pregnancy. Your Heart Risk May Not Does Pregnancy Actually Make You Forgetful?       The researchers also assessed memory in 70 women, including women at different stages of pregnancy and women who were not pregnant. Memory problems surfaced during late pregnancy stages and were linked with higher circulating estrogen levels. The researchers reported changes across several memory-related tasks. But it is important to note that the researchers did not directly measure or manipulate this specific brain circuit in pregnant women. That means the human findings support the mechanism observed in mice, but do not prove that exactly the same circuit causes memory changes during human pregnancy. The study has cemented evidence that many pregnant women experience forgetfulness, but it does not mean pregnancy causes permanent memory loss. For most women, pregnancy-related forgetfulness generally improves after childbirth.

‘momnesia’ is real: pregnancy forgetfulness may be linked to disruption in brain’s memory circuit

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