Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Maternal cells found in children’s brains may persist into old age
Researchers found cells from mothers in the brains of some children in a study of tissue removed during epilepsy surgery.
The samples came from 37 children, from newborns to age 14, and maternal cells were detected in 26 of them.
These cells can cross the placenta during pregnancy, and earlier research had suggested they may remain in the brain for decades.
The cells appeared in several brain cell types, including neurons, immune cells and cells that support or protect neurons.
The researchers also analysed data from people ranging from a fetus to adults in their 80s, and found maternal cells across the age range.
Their numbers declined with age, though the reason is not clear; cell death may be one explanation.
The findings suggest human brains can contain cells from more than one person, but the study does not establish what these cells do or how they affect health.
Researchers found cells from mothers in brain samples from 26 of 37 children who had surgery for epilepsy.
The cells appeared in several brain cell types, including neurons, microglia and astrocytes.
Analysis of data from earlier studies also found maternal cells in brains across ages ranging from a 22-week-old fetus to people in their 80s.
The number of maternal cells appeared to decline with age.
The findings suggest that cells passed from mother to child during pregnancy can persist in the brain for decades.
- Who
- Researchers led by Sami Kanaan at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center studied maternal cells in children’s brains.
- What
- They found maternal cells in brain samples from 26 of 37 children and found evidence of such cells in data spanning people from fetal life to their 80s.
- When
- The research was published on 13 October 2026. The timing of the study itself is not stated.
- Where
- Brain samples came from children who had epilepsy surgery; Kanaan works at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.
- Why
- The researchers aimed to investigate how often maternal cells are present in the brain and what kinds of brain cells they occupy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A small proportion of cells are thought to cross the placenta from mother to child.
Researchers analysed brain samples from 37 children, from newborns to 14-year-olds, taken during surgery for epilepsy.
The team found maternal cells in 26 of the 37 children, with an average of 2.2 maternal cells per 100,000 in each sample.
Analysis found maternal cells in brain data ranging from a 22-week-old fetus to people in their 80s, with numbers declining with age.
- Children studied
- 37, from newborns to 14-year-olds
- Children with maternal cells detected
- 26
- Average in samples
- 2.2 maternal cells per 100,000
- Cell types identified
- Neurons, microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and endothelial cells
- Age range in earlier studies
- 22-week-old fetus to people in their 80s
- Publication date
- 13 October 2026
What people are saying
They are usually 1 in 100,000.
It’s a [widespread] human feature to have this, and it starts in early life and continues throughout the whole life, which is mind-blowing.
every human brain is likely a genetic mosaic of more than one person
Sources
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