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pregnancy

·July 6, 2026·9 min read

Early Pregnancy Hormones Predict IQ

A new study proves that maternal estrogen levels at 6–8 weeks of pregnancy directly predict a newborn's head circumference, with a stronger effect in boys. The findings support the "estrogenized ape hypothesis," suggesting that human brain expansion is evolutionarily linked to prenatal estrogenization, carrying an evolutionary trade-off of reduced male health and fertility.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 2, 2026·9 min read

Maternal High-Fructose Diets Epigenetically Scar Fetal Brain Cells

A maternal diet high in fructose corn syrup programs permanent learning and memory deficits in adult offspring. The mechanism is driven by lasting epigenetic imprints on fetal neural stem cells that silence neurogenesis genes into adulthood, establishing a direct "biological memory" of prenatal maternal nutrition.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·July 1, 2026·11 min read

Acetaminophen Cleared of Autism and ADHD Pregnancy Risks

A new study utilizes a rigorous sibling-matched design to conclusively prove that prenatal paracetamol (acetaminophen) exposure carries zero risk of causing autism or ADHD, regardless of trimester timing or dosage volume.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 13, 2026·9 min read

Autophagy Decline in Older Moms Halts Embryo Development

A new study demonstrates that a decline in autophagy within embryos from advanced maternal age drives an abnormal over-activation of lipid metabolism that causes developmental arrest.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 10, 2026·8 min read

Prenatal Sleep Expectations Drive Postpartum Insomnia

Pregnant women's expectations about postpartum sleep predict their actual sleep quality after delivery, completely outweighing prior sleep disorders, birth history, and psychiatric history.

This shows the outline of two women's heads and a brain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 20, 2026·8 min read

Multiple Pregnancies May Shield the Female Brain From Stroke

A new study reveals that women with three or more live births have a reduced risk of stroke and covert vascular brain damage.

This shows a pregnant woman, pills and DNA.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 16, 2026·8 min read

High-Dose Folic Acid Slashes Birth Defect Risks

Women on antiseizure medication can reduce their child's risk of birth defects by 45%, but only if they start high-dose folic acid before getting pregnant.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 8, 2026·8 min read

Pinpointing the Specific Cells That Trigger Pregnancy Risks

Researchers have published a 3D atlas of the maternal-fetal interface. The study identifies new cell types and biological mechanisms behind preeclampsia, miscarriage, and the risks associated with cannabis use during pregnancy.

This shows the outline of a pregnant woman, the gut-brain axis and bacteria.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 1, 2026·9 min read

Link Found Between Antibiotics and Depression in Pregnancy

A study of 94,000 women reveals that antibiotic use before and during pregnancy is linked to increased psychological distress. Researchers point to the disruption of the gut-brain axis as a potential cause for this "stepwise" increase in mental health risks.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 22, 2026·6 min read

Prenatal Lead Exposure Affects the Aging Brain

A biological time capsule reveals a 60-year secret. Scientists find that lead exposure in the womb can act as a "cognitive accelerator," adding years to the aging brain.

This image shows two pregnant women, one with an infant on her lap, the other without, signifying how having more than one child sparks neuroplasticity during pregnancy.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 19, 2026·7 min read

Second Pregnancy Rewires Mom’s Brain for Multi-Child Parenting

One and done? Not for your neurons. Scientists have discovered that a second pregnancy leaves its own unique mark on the brain, specifically tuning it for the chaos of multi-child parenting.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2026·8 min read

Antidepressants May Safeguard Against Preterm Birth Risks

Does treating depression with antidepressants during pregnancy harm the baby? A massive new study reveals that while SSRIs increase gestational diabetes risk, they also protect against preterm birth.