What does this research mean for the field?

Postpartum women experience a transient elevation in MRI-predicted brain age gap at 3 months postpartum that normalizes by 12 months, suggesting temporary adaptive neuroplasticity rather than permanent pathological aging. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate postpartum brain aging trajectories using machine learning-derived brain age gaps and determine whether maternal structural brain changes reflect pathological decline or adaptive neuroplasticity.

September 2, 2026Human Brain MappingOpen Access

Transient Elevation and Subsequent Normalization of Brain Age Gap During the Postpartum Period

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Authors

CPChang-Hyun ParkYonsei University YBYunjin BakYonsei University SHSanghoon HanYonsei University

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Implication

Longitudinal controlled study reveals transient elevation of brain age gap in postpartum women, suggesting adaptive neuroplasticity rather than permanent structural decline.

Key Points

To evaluate postpartum brain aging trajectories using machine learning-derived brain age gaps and determine whether maternal structural brain changes reflect pathological decline or adaptive neuroplasticity.
Longitudinal controlled study evaluating 55 women, comprising 25 postpartum participants and 30 nulliparous controls.
Brain age gap (MRI-predicted minus chronological age) was assessed at approximately 3 and 12 months postpartum (and matched intervals for controls) alongside Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) network analysis.
Postpartum women demonstrated a significantly elevated brain age gap at 3 months (2.5 ± 2.7 years) compared with controls (0.3 ± 3.6 years; p = 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.69), driven selectively by subcortical network alterations (p = 0.006, Cohen's d = 0.82).
Elevations normalized by 12 months via a significant within-group reduction in postpartum women (−3.3 ± 3.5 years; p = 0.008), although the between-group difference in longitudinal trajectory was not statistically significant (p = 0.12, Cohen's d = −0.58).
Across all participants, baseline brain age gap correlated with working memory performance (ρ = −0.30; p = 0.03), depressive symptoms (ρ = 0.38; p = 0.004), and subjective cognitive complaints (ρ = 0.28; p = 0.04).

Cite This Study

Park et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e318c562ede874ec7ba3 https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.70608

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Implication

Longitudinal controlled study reveals transient elevation of brain age gap in postpartum women, suggesting adaptive neuroplasticity rather than permanent structural decline.

Transient Elevation and Subsequent Normalization of Brain Age Gap During the Postpartum Period

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Transient Elevation and Subsequent Normalization of Brain Age Gap During the Postpartum Period

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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