What: Scientific American looks at the recent study that found pregnant women who developed postpartum depression metabolized progesterone differently in their third trimester, possibly influencing a neurotransmitter that affects mood. The research suggests that a blood test could help predict postpartum depression before symptoms even begin, allowing for early intervention and treatment.

Key Line: “‘This is important, as [postpartum] depression is often only recognized at a relatively late stage, and then the long-term consequences for both mother and child are generally more severe,’ says Elseline Hoekzema, a neuroscientist who runs the Pregnancy and the Brain Lab at Amsterdam University Medical Center.”

Source: Scientific American