My Brain and Me: How fetal cells affect maternal health - Prof. Eitan Okun | Bar-Da'at Podcasts

Fetal cells and maternal health: microchimerism, stem cells, Alzheimer’s risk, and Down syndrome.
The episode presents fetal cell transfer to the mother during pregnancy (microchimerism), including stem-like cells that integrate into maternal tissues and may contribute to repair processes. However, in specific conditions such as pregnancies with Down syndrome, increased transfer of these cells may lead to tissue damage, including in the brain, and significantly elevate the mother’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This reflects a bidirectional biological exchange with long-term implications.