An article recently published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research conducted a study to investigate the potential link between having sons and the cognitive abilities of parents aged 50 and over.

The study examined parental cognition by looking at cognitive tests such as memory, processing speed, and executive functioning. The researchers also took into account other factors such as demographic background, medical history, and lifestyle. [i]

The results of the study showed that parents with sons had better cognitive performance than those without sons and that the effect was even more pronounced in those over the age of 70. [i]

Furthermore, the study found that the link between having sons and cognitive performance was not limited to parents over the age of 50 but was also observed in younger generations. [i]

The authors concluded that sons might have a protective effect on their parents’ cognitive abilities and that further research is needed to examine the mechanisms involved in this process. [i]

A 3D male medical figure with the front of the brain highlighted. Photo by Kirsty Pargeter

The results indicated three key points:

1. First, having sons was not related to the baseline level of cognition.
2. Parents of at least one son had a faster cognitive decline rate than parents without sons.
3. Cognitive decline was faster among parents of multiple sons compared to parents with only daughters. [i]

Previous studies and research have aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between the number of sons a mother has and the effect it has on her long-term health, including her risk of developing dementia. Previous research suggested that giving birth to a son significantly decreased a mother’s life expectancy. [ii]

In order to further explore this claim, researchers conducted a study in which they assessed the impact of having a son versus having a daughter on a mother’s health and longevity. They analyzed various factors, such as the mother’s age at the time of birth, her education level, her marital status, and any other potential health issues. [ii]

The results of the study showed that there was indeed a correlation between having a son and a decreased life expectancy for the mother. However, the researchers noted that the magnitude of the decrease in longevity was relatively small. [ii]

Therefore, they concluded that, while having a son could slightly reduce a mother’s life expectancy, the effect was not significant enough to be considered a cause for alarm. [ii]

Photo by toa555/Adobe Stock

A recent study conducted by researchers has found that there is a much weaker correlation between the number of sons born and maternal longevity than previously suggested. The study’s results showed that having more sons does not necessarily lead to a shorter postmenopausal lifespan for mothers. [iii]

The researchers also noted that other factors, such as age at first pregnancy, educational attainment, and lifestyle, can play a role in maternal longevity. [iii]

Additionally, the researchers suggest that cultural and societal influences may also have an impact on the relationship between the number of sons born and maternal longevity. The findings of this study have important implications for understanding the factors that affect maternal longevity and health. [iii]

This study aimed to investigate the strength of the correlation between having one or more sons and the parental rate of cognitive decline. It included a cohort of 13,222 adults aged 50 years and over from the US Health & Retirement Study. [iv]

The participants were followed up over time to measure their cognitive performance and parental rate of cognitive decline. Data was collected and analyzed to determine the strength of the correlation between having one or more sons and the parental rate of cognitive decline. [iv]

Three males that appear related. Photo by Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock

The study involved participants who all had at least one child, and sought to explore the potential correlation between the sex of the parent and the rate of cognitive decline over time. Specifically, the study hypothesized that having more sons would lead to a faster decline in cognitive performance than having more daughters. [v]

The results of the study indicate that, indeed, having sons may lead to a more rapid decline in parental cognition than having daughters, suggesting a potential long-term negative effect of having sons on parental cognition. [v]

The team conducted a detailed analysis to assess the potential connection between having sons and cognitive deterioration. They studied participants over a period of eighteen years, with assessments taking place every two years for a total of nine times. [vi]

Results from their research showed a clear link between having sons and a faster rate of cognitive decline in both mothers and fathers. This indicates that there may be a significant impact on cognitive functioning for parents of sons. [vi]

A mother is standing next to her daughter. Photo by Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock

Additionally, compared to same-aged parents with only daughters, cognitive decline was even quicker among parents with multiple sons. These new developments confirm foundational study results from 2022 that concluded “sons accelerate maternal aging” in wild mammals. [ix]

Researchers in the past indicated that “Females with many sons during early adulthood showed the most substantial declines in reproductive success in old age.” They further suggested that these results indicate a “need to consider offspring sex in studies of aging.” [vii]

Despite both parents showing faster cognitive decline when having sons, on average, men were shown to be biologically older than women, according to a study conducted by researchers and published in the September 2022 edition of the Journal of Gerontology Series A. [viii]

The team examined a variety of factors, such as telomere length and gene expression profiles, to measure biological age. The results showed that men were on average 1.5 years older biologically than women, even when taking into account the age of the participants. This research suggests that men may be more vulnerable to the effects of aging compared to women. [viii]

The team suggested that this gender gap in biological age may be linked to lifestyle choices, such as smoking and other environmental factors, as well as biological differences between the sexes. Further research is needed to better understand the implications of this gender gap in biological age. [viii]

Research has suggested that a male’s predisposition to being biologically older can have an impact on their cognitive decline. It is believed that this is due to the increased levels of stress that males experience when they have one or more sons.

This additional stress can cause physiological changes in the body, including an increase in cortisol levels, which can lead to cognitive decline. As a result, it is possible that this increased level of stress could lead to a shorter lifespan for males than females, as well as an increased risk of developing age-related diseases.

However, whether or not this combination of biological aging and having one or more sons truly does balance the scales between males and females is still a topic of debate. Some research suggests that the additional stress caused by having sons may in fact, be beneficial, as it could lead to increased cognitive reserve and a greater ability to withstand the effects of aging.

On the other hand, other research suggests that the additional stress caused by having sons could end up increasing the rate of cognitive decline in males. As such, more research is needed to better understand the effects of having sons on male cognitive decline and how it relates to the gender gap in lifespan.

References

[i] Katrin Wolfova et al., Sons and parental cognition in mid-life and older adulthood (Oct. 2022)

[ii] David Cesarini, Erik Lindqvist, Bjorn Wallace, Is there an adverse effect of sons on maternal longevity? (Mar. 11, 2009)

[iii] Id.

[iv] Katrin Wolfova et al., Sons and parental cognition in mid-life and older adulthood (Oct. 2022)

[v] Id.

[vi] Id.

[vii] Mathieu Douhard, Marco Festa-Bianchet, Fanie Pelletier, Sons accelerate maternal aging in a wild mammal (Feb. 18, 2022)

[viii] Katrin Wolfova et al., Sons and parental cognition in mid-life and older adulthood (Oct. 2022)

[ix] Mathieu Douhard, Marco Festa-Bianchet, Fanie Pelletier, Sons accelerate maternal aging in a wild mammal (Feb. 18, 2022)