Beating Dementia: Contraceptive Pill Could Have More Than One Use

If you’re taking the contraceptive pill, it could be benefiting you in more ways than one.

A US study has found that taking the contraceptive pill could help you stave off dementia in later life as the oestrogen hormone in the pill is thought to protect the memory against deterioration.

The research found that middle-aged women who were on the pill for five years or more performed better on memory tests than those who have never taken it.

Around 260 women aged between 40 and 65 were studied, with those on the daily contraceptive pill having a significantly better memory in tests. The test included naming objects and listing words on a particular topic.

The researchers have suggested it is in fact the main hormone in the pill, oestrogen, that’s behind the memory boost. It has the beneficial side effect of preventing blockages in arteries, which encourages blood flow to the brain.

The pill involved in the research is the more common ‘combined’ pill, which uses both oestrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. Another form of the contraceptive, the ‘mini’ pill, which contains only progesterone, would not have the same benefits.

Lead researcher Kelly Egan, from the University of Wisconsin, explained that her analysis shows a strong link between taking the pill and better memory in middle age, and that this benefit increases with the length of time women take the pill for.

Various studies have linked the pill to other health benefits, including reducing bowel, womb and ovarian cancer risk and even promoting longer life.

However, other studies have suggested it slightly increases breast and cervical cancer risk.