Women who have been pregnant show more signs of biological ageing compared to those who have never had a baby, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The scientists also found that the biological ageing process accelerates when a woman has had more than one pregnancy.
“We’re learning that pregnancy has long-term effects on the body. They are not all bad, but it seems to increase the risk of some diseases and all-cause mortality,” Calen Ryan, Associate Research Scientist at the Columbia University Ageing Center at the Mailman School of Public Health, who led the new research was quoted as saying.
The study involved analysing blood samples from 1,735 individuals in the Philippines, all aged between 20 and 22 in 2005, utilising data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Researchers also examined the reproductive and sexual backgrounds of the participants, along with their pregnancy histories, while considering socioeconomic and pollution-related variables that could influence the ageing process in both men and women. The findings were then compared with data collected from a smaller subset of female participants spanning 2009 to 2014. The blood samples underwent analysis to examine various biological indicators linked to ageing, including alterations in DNA referred to as epigenetic modifications.
As cells mature, they amass molecular marks indicating which genes have been activated or deactivated. These modifications can provide insight into the biological age of cells. Referred to as “epigenetic clocks,” these markers can also reflect the influences of factors such as stress and other physiological and psychological experiences on cells, causing them to appear either older or younger than their chronological age.
To delve deeper into the effects of pregnancy, researchers analysed a smaller subset of women over nine years. They found mixed results, with women who had experienced more pregnancies showing greater changes in only two of the epigenetic clocks compared to women with fewer pregnancies. To ensure the findings accounted for other factors influencing ageing, such as air pollution exposure, smoking, and socioeconomic status, the researchers applied the same six epigenetic clocks to the male participants. Interestingly, they discovered no association between the number of children fathered by men and the pace of their biological ageing.
However, while doctors linked the possibility of ageing faster in women who have been pregnant, they also concluded that the concept of age reversal seemed too far-fetched. Dr Chetna Jain, Director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Gurgaon, told India Today, “It’s important to consider what we mean by ‘ageing’ at a biological level. Ageing involves a gradual decline in cellular function and physiological processes over time, which can lead to increased susceptibility to diseases and an overall decline in health. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences play significant roles in determining the rate at which an individual ages.”
According to Dr Anuradha Kapur, Senior Director and head of unit, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, told India Today that it is too early to comment or come to a conclusion as this requires more study and correlation.
“Just now, things are not very clear on how much ageing there is going to be, they say it is about from four months to two years. Ageing is more in patients who’ve gone through a pregnancy than in women who’ve not. But more studies are needed and more correlation is needed before we can finally say that whether it causes a permanent ageing process or not,” she was quoted as saying.
“During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes significant physiological changes to support foetal development. These changes include alterations in hormone levels, increased metabolic demands, and changes in immune function. While these changes are essential for a healthy pregnancy, they can also impact cellular processes and potentially contribute to accelerated ageing at the molecular level,” Dr Jain further added.
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