| dc.description.abstract | Pregnancy is a period of profound biological transformation, characterized by extensive physiological and hormonal adjustments. Approximately 85% of human females give birth in their lifetimes, we know remarkably little about pregnancy-related brain changes, which may affect a pregnant individual's emotions, cognition, and behaviors both immediately and long term. To address this gap, our study employed a longitudinal approach with multiple magnetic resonance imaging modalities. We aimed to chart neurobiological changes during pregnancy, and to examine potential mechanisms driving these changes. Ten women (age range: 20–39 years) were assessed during their pregnancy (total of 27 visits). Each visit included anatomical and diffusion-weighted MRI, waking salivary hormone assessments, and inflammatory cytokines assessments. Statistically significant reductions in total brain (ꞵ = -0.105, 95%CI [-0.169, -0.040]) and gray matter (ꞵ = -0.192, 95%CI [-0.301, -0.082]) volume, particularly in the midline regions. Neurite Density Index–a proxy of axon density–in white matter tracts exhibited a marked increase across pregnancy, especially in tracts linked to sensorimotor processing. Changes in hormone levels demonstrated correlations with changes in brain metrics, suggesting that brain changes may be in part mediated by hormone changes during pregnancy. This study highlights the profound neurobiological changes experienced by pregnant individuals, laying the groundwork for future examinations in this critical yet understudied area. | |
