Motherhoodmaymakewomensmarterandmayhelppreventdementia(痴呆)inoldagebybathingthebraininprotectivehormones(荷尔蒙),U.S.researchersreportedonThursday.
Testsonratsshowthatthosewhoraisetwoormorelittersofpupsdoconsiderablybetterintestsofmemoryandskillsthanratswhohavenobabies,andtheirbrainsshowchangesthatsuggesttheymaybeprotectedagainstdiseasessuchasAlzheimer’s(早老痴呆症).UniversityofRichmondpsychologyprofessorCraigKinsleybelieveshisfindingswilltranslateintohumans.
“Ourresearchshowsthatthehormonesofpregnancy(怀孕)areprotectingthebrain,includingestrogen(雌激素),whichweknowhasmanyneuroprotective(保护神经的)effects,”Kinsleysaid.  
“It’sratdatabuthumansaremammalsjustliketheseanimalsaremammals,”headdedinatelephoneinterview.“Theygothroughpregnancyandhormonalchanges.”
KinsleysaidhehopedpublichealthofficialsandresearcherswilllooktoseeifhavinghadchildrenprotectsawomanfromAlzheimer’sandotherformsofage-relatedbraindecline.
“Whenpeoplethinkaboutpregnancy,theythinkaboutwhathappenstobabiesandthemotherfromtheneckdown,”saidKinsley,whopresentedhisfindingstotheannualmeetingoftheSocietyofNeuroscienceinOrlando,Florida.
“Theydonotrealizethathormonesarewashingonthebrain.Ifyoulookatfemaleanimalswhohavenevergonethroughpregnancy,theyactdifferentlytowardyoung.Butifshegoesthroughpregnancy,shewillsacrificeherlifeforherinfant—thatisagreatchangeinherbehaviorthatshowedingeneticalterations(改变)tothebrain.”
小题1:Howdoscientistsknow“Motherhoodmaymakewomensmarter”?