Becoming a father rewires the brain, according to Scientific American. Recent research shows fathers experience significant changes in brain areas linked to parental caregiving, similar to mothers. A twenty twenty-three study found men show reduced gray matter after becoming fathers—a 'pruning' that makes their brains more efficient for childcare. But fathers face an underrecognized mental health crisis: about one in ten experience postpartum depression or anxiety. In men, symptoms often look like anger or irritability rather than sadness. Fathers' depression typically peaks three to six months after birth, around when mothers return to work. Experts say parental mental health support should extend beyond mothers to fathers too.

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