Oxford study links blood pressure care after birth to better brain health
Findings highlight the importance of new mothers looking after themselves
Last updated 20th Jan 2026
A study from Oxford researchers suggests that managing blood pressure after childbirth can positively impact long-term brain health.
The research found that women who monitored and controlled their blood pressure at home, with remote support from a doctor, had larger brain white matter volumes nine months later compared to those who received standard postnatal care.
White matter is critical for communication between different parts of the brain, and lower volumes have been linked to cognitive decline and conditions such as dementia.
High blood pressure conditions during pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, are also known to increase a woman’s risk of stroke, dementia, and other neurological issues later in life.
Earlier studies revealed that women who experienced these conditions often had smaller brain volumes long after pregnancy.
However, the new research suggests that managing blood pressure in the period immediately after birth could make a difference.
Dr Winok Lapidaire, Principal Investigator in Cardiovascular Medicine in the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine, said: “What was really striking about this study is that it's only a very short amount of time that women were monitoring their blood pressure, but what we could see is these longer-term changes.
“That gives us an indication that the first couple of weeks after your delivery is really important to focus on getting the mother's health back to normal as well as focusing on the baby.”
Dr Lapidaire added that having a high blood pressure could also impact people emotionally: “Your brain is really important not just in the long term to prevent things like dementia, but also in the immediate term because mental health is linked to brain volumes as well.
“What we see is that women, for example, who have had a high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia, have higher rates of cognitive problems so difficulty concentrating and mental health problems.”
The study found that women with pre-eclampsia benefitted the most from the intervention, as their brain volumes in key regions increased to levels comparable to women with gestational hypertension (a milder form of high blood pressure during pregnancy).
Overall Dr Lapidaire said that, as someone with a one-year old, she understands how difficult it can be for mothers to prioritise their own health, but it is important to allow your body time to recover after birth.
She advised women to visit their GP if they have any concerns, and it may be worth trying to manage blood pressure:
“If you have any symptoms like you can't concentrate, you're forgetful or you just feel that something's off, don't dismiss it as ‘oh, it's just a new mum brain’ because it could be a sign of something else and maybe if you monitor your blood pressure then these symptoms might actually improve.”