47. Breastfeeding might help prevent cognitive decline after menopause
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Breastfeeding might be protective to a women’s brain after she goes through menopause. In a new study published in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, researchers at UCLA found that women over the age of 50 who had breastfed their babies earlier in life performed better on cognitive tests compared to women who had never breastfed. In fact, they performed better in all four cognitive areas measured – learning, delayed recall, executive functioning and processing. The researchers also observed that the longer time a woman spent breastfeeding was associated with better cognitive performance. It seems that breastfeeding might be neuroprotective later in life.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
