Health
During pregnancy, a woman's brain experiences 'profound changes,' new study finds
The body isn’t the only thing that changes when a woman is pregnant.
A new study conducted by researchers at UC Santa Barbara mapped how the brain responds to rapid hormone changes during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a “transformative period in a person’s life accompanied by profound hormonal and physiological changes,” study co-author Dr. Laura Pritschet said in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
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“Investigations that compare women pre- and post-pregnancy provide the strongest evidence to date that the human brain undergoes neural change during this period,” she said.
“Yet, how the brain changes during gestation itself is virtually unknown.”
The study mapped how the brain responds to rapid hormonal changes during pregnancy. (iStock)
Pritschet and her team launched the Maternal Brain Project, which scanned a first-time mother’s brain, once every few weeks, from preconception through two years postpartum.
This allowed the researchers to record changes in the brain in “pretty exquisite detail,” Pritschet said, which is “something that hasn’t been captured before.”
“These findings reveal highly dynamic changes unfolding in the human brain during pregnancy — some of which did not fully return to preconception levels.”
“Our findings show that pregnancy is characterized by reductions in gray matter volume, cortical thinning, and enhanced white matter microstructural integrity that unfold in step with advancing gestational week,” she went on.
These changes in brain matter were also linked to a significant rise in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy.
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“Together, these findings reveal highly dynamic changes unfolding in the human brain during pregnancy — some of which did not fully return to preconception levels,” Pritschet said.
This demonstrates a capacity for “extensive neural remodeling well into adulthood,” according to the researcher.
A reduction of gray matter in the brain isn’t necessarily a bad thing, she noted.
Researchers saw a decrease in gray matter and an increase in white matter in the brain of a first-time mother. (iStock)
A decrease in gray matter could indicate a “fine-tuning” of brain circuits, similar to how the brain changes and becomes more specialized as adolescents transition through puberty, Pritschet told Fox News Digital.
Some of the neurological changes were thought to be a response to the “high physiological demands” of pregnancy, which shows how adaptive the brain can be, the researcher said.
Overall, the study revealed evidence of “profound changes” happening in the brain, she noted, which could help validate the “wide range of experiences women have during pregnancy.”
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Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, told Fox News Digital that he considers this study “interesting.”
Murray, who was not involved in the study, defined neuroplasticity as the brain’s ability to “reorganize neural pathways in response to changes in the brain, such as growth, chemical changes, environmental exposures or injury.”
“Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize neural pathways in response to changes in the brain, such as growth, chemical changes, environmental exposures or injury,” a neurologist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
The extent of brain structure changes in such a short amount of time was one of the most “remarkable” findings in the study, Murray noted.
“This demonstrates the brain’s remarkable ability to respond to numerous changes and stressors,” he said.
“We know that women’s bodies go through many changes during pregnancy, but this is the first time changes in the brain have been documented with imaging during the different stages.”
Spotlight on women’s health
Pritschet emphasized that pregnancy should not be considered a “niche research topic,” as 85% of women experience it at least once in their lifetime, and about 140 million women are pregnant every year.
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“Asking these questions is long overdue, but we have good news — there is now a worldwide spotlight on women’s health at large, and the future is bright because of it,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Our hope is that this proof-of-concept study serves as a catalyst for more studies that take place in larger, more diverse cohorts of women.”
“Profound changes” happening in the brain could help validate the “wide range of experiences” women have during pregnancy, the researcher suggested. (iStock)
Using the new information from this study, the researchers plan to further investigate how brain changes may drive neurological conditions during pregnancy, like eclampsia, epilepsy, stroke and migraine.
“There are now FDA-approved treatments for postpartum depression (a condition that affects roughly one in five women), but early detection remains elusive,” Pritschet said.
“The more we learn about the maternal brain, the better chance we’ll have to provide relief.”
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Murray agreed that this study will help lay the groundwork for additional studies looking at various psychological or neurological conditions women may face during pregnancy.
This study did not look at the neurological changes related to forgetfulness or “brain fog” — often referred to as “pregnancy brain” — or other side effects, Pritschet clarified.
“The more we learn about the maternal brain, the better chance we’ll have to provide relief.”
“We absolutely need more work in this space to understand how changes in the brain during pregnancy lead to or trigger cognitive, behavioral and health outcomes,” she said.
“Everyone’s journey is different – some women report changes in mood or forgetfulness, while others do not – so we need to understand how and why these differences may emerge.”
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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Health
Dr Oz warns Medicare scammers are stealing billions — and your personal information could be next
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Washington, D.C. – Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar problem that government officials say threatens both taxpayer dollars and Americans’ personal identities.
In a July 6 interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mehmet Oz warned that every dollar stolen through Medicare fraud is a dollar taxpayers lose – a problem that has worsened since the COVID pandemic.
“If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I’d go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it,” said Oz, who is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “And just to put this in perspective, we think it’s about $100 billion a year.”
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Medicare fraud can include billing for services that were never provided, overcharging for medical equipment, using stolen patient or doctor information, or performing unnecessary procedures, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured on stage at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 2026. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
As the Trump administration ramped up efforts to combat fraud, CMS reported $41.9 billion in Medicare program integrity savings in 2025, up 59% from $26.3 billion in 2024.
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Medicare fraud not only harms the federal budget and steals from taxpayers, but exposes seniors to identity theft, unnecessary care, higher premiums and reduced access, Oz cautioned.
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Removing corruption from the healthcare system will have the greatest impact among seniors, since “so much of the fraud is perpetrated against them,” the administrator said.
“I’m talking about people tricking seniors to give up their Medicare beneficiary numbers, which is like a credit card basically,” he said. “These scammers can take those numbers and use them for all kinds of illegitimate purposes.”
“If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I’d go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it,” said Oz. (Fox News Digital)
“People are stealing from you by pretending to send you drugs you don’t want, wheelchairs you don’t need, [and] services you never asked for or don’t benefit from,” Oz added.
To prevent this, he shared his top advice for seniors: Do not give your Medicare beneficiary number to anybody, do not answer questions on a phone call from an unknown person and do not give away personal information.
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“These scammers are calling seniors, tricking them, and once they have key information, they can steal it,” he said. “And I won’t know it and you won’t know it.”
“We want to protect people who need these programs the most,” Oz went on. “You do that by making sure scoundrels don’t corrupt the systems and steal money out of the till that is designed to help folks in dire straits when they’re vulnerable and in need of services.”
Seniors should never share their Medicare information with unknown people, the administrator advised. (iStock)
Removing fraud could “double the life expectancy of the trust fund that makes all this possible,” Oz predicted.
“If you’re worried about Medicare being there when you’re ready to retire in a couple decades, depending on how old you are, and you’re concerned that it might not last because of all the fraud that’s hitting it … you’ve got a good [reason to] worry,” he said.
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“If we take the fraud out, we could double the life expectancy, which means you, your kids, your kids’ kids … they could all benefit from this beautiful safety net program.”
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