Motherhood may make women smarter and may help prevent dementia in old age by bathing the brain in protective hormones, US reseachers reported on Thursday.
Tests on rats show that those who raise two or more litters of pups do considerably better in tests of memory and skills than rats who have no babies, and their brains show changes that suggest they may be protected against diseases such as Alzheimer’s. University of Richmond psychology professor Craig Kinsley believes his findings will translate into humans.
"Our research shows that the hormones of pregnancy are protecting the brain, including estrogen, which we know has many neuroprotective effects," Kinsley said.
"It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals," he added in a telephone interview. "They go through pregnancy and hormonal changes. "
Kinsley said he hoped public health officials and researchers will look to see i
A. Baby rats.
B. Animals.
C. Old rats.
D. Grown-up rats.
我来回答:
