Study: Contraceptive pill wards off Alzheimer's

Women who take a contraceptive pill reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life, according to a new report.

US scientists have shown that taking the birth control drug could be instrumental in improving the cognitive abilities of women in midlife and for years later.

Lead researcher Kelly Egan at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health stated that her study shows that there may be a protective cognitive effect from taking the pill "even years after use is discontinued. This is especially true in subjects with a longer duration of use."

Susan Kornstein, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Women's Health, which published the research, added that the research offers preliminary evidence that hormonal contraceptives could have a protective cognitive effect".

A previous study carried out at the University of California, Irvine found a link between the frailty of older adults and their likelihood of going on to develop dementia.

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