health
Having children makes you smarter? Incredible, but true
Mothers and fathers have healthier, younger-looking brains, according to recent studies. It must be all those years of mental and emotional gymnastics
TL;DR
- Studies suggest parenting may permanently improve brain health for parents.
- Mothers with more children and parents in general showed patterns associated with younger brains.
- Parenting demands continuous learning, emotional negotiation, adaptability, and improvisation, which can protect cognitive reserve.
- The challenges of parenting, from weaning to teenage issues, require significant mental and emotional engagement.
- This continuous brain stimulation may contribute to long-term brain resilience.