The ‘pill’ which may prevent dementia
The contraceptive Pill could prevent women getting dementia years after they have stopped taking it, according to American research. Women in their 50s who had been on the drug when they were younger performed better in memory tests than those who had never taken it.
The contraceptive Pill could prevent women getting dementia years after they have stopped taking it, according to American research.
Women in their 50s who had been on the drug when they were younger performed better in memory tests than those who had never taken it.
Experts think the key hormone in the Pill, oestrogen, prevents the arteries hardening, which increases the blood supply to the brain, helping stave off the illness.
For some years scientists have known that Hormone Replacement Therapy, which also contains oestrogen, seems to protect against dementia. But little was known about the potential benefits of the Pill.
American scientists looked at 261 women aged 40 to 65 years who were surveyed on their health.
They underwent a series of tests on their memory, including naming certain objects and listing as many words as they could on a given subject.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin found women who had taken the Pill performed significantly better in some of the tests. They also found the longer the women had been on the Pill, the higher their scores.
Although the study did not directly look at the risks of dementia, adults whose brains are sharper in middle age are thought to be far less at risk of the illness. Experts think that oestrogen, the main hormone in the Pill, helps maintain the function of the brain in two ways.
Firstly, they believe it prevents the arteries from becoming blocked, which keeps a steady flow of blood to the brain. They also suspect it may encourage the growth of certain cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Lead researcher Kelly Egan, whose study is published in the Journal of Women’s Health, said: “Our analysis indicated hormonal contraceptive use may have a protective cognitive [memory] effect – even years after use is discontinued.”
While the contraceptive Pill has been shown to protect against some cancers such as ovarian and bowel, it is thought to raise the risk of breast tumours.
