A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that pregnancy may have long-term effects on biological ageing, with women who have been pregnant showing signs of accelerated ageing compared to those who haven’t experienced pregnancy.
Led by Calen Ryan, associate research scientist at the Columbia University Ageing Center at the Mailman School of Public Health, the research involved analyzing blood samples from 1,735 individuals in the Philippines, aged between 20 and 22 in 2005, using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. The study aimed to understand the impact of pregnancy on biological ageing by examining epigenetic modifications, which are molecular marks indicating the activation or deactivation of genes and can provide insights into cellular age.
The findings revealed that women who had been pregnant showed signs of accelerated biological ageing, with an increase of approximately 3% per year compared to women who had never been pregnant. Moreover, women with multiple pregnancies aged even faster, up to five months faster per pregnancy, indicating a cumulative effect of pregnancy on the ageing process.
To ensure the validity of the results, the researchers considered various factors such as socioeconomic status and pollution exposure, and applied the same epigenetic analysis to male participants. Interestingly, they found no association between the number of children fathered by men and their biological ageing.
Experts, however, caution against drawing definitive conclusions from this study alone. Dr. Chetna Jain, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, emphasizes that ageing involves complex interactions between genetics, lifestyle, and environment. While pregnancy may accelerate certain biological markers associated with ageing, the concept of reversible ageing remains speculative.
Similarly, Dr. Anuradha Kapur, Senior Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, suggests that further research and correlation are needed before concluding the long-term effects of pregnancy on ageing. Pregnancy induces significant physiological changes in a woman’s body to support foetal development, and while these changes may impact cellular processes, they may not necessarily lead to irreversible ageing.
In conclusion, while the study sheds light on the potential impact of pregnancy on biological ageing, it’s essential to recognize that pregnancy is a natural process integral to human reproduction. More research is needed to understand the long-term implications fully. As we contemplate these findings, it’s crucial to acknowledge the profound journey of pregnancy experienced by women throughout history, with many questions yet to be answered.