Contraceptive linked to memory loss

November 04, 2011

Researchers at the Arizona State University have linked the hormone in Depo Provera to memory loss. The birth-control shot can act as an abortifacient as well as a contraceptive.

“What we found was pretty shocking – animals that had been given the drug at any point in their life were memory impaired at middle age compared to animals that never had the drug,” said one of the lead researchers. “We also confirmed that in the subjects that only received the drug when young, the hormone was no longer circulating during memory testing when older, showing it had cleared from the system yet still had effects on brain function.”

 

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Further information:

• ASU researchers link birth-control shot Depo Provera to memory loss (Phoenix Business Journal)
• Hormone in birth control shot linked to memory loss (Arizona State University)
• Depo Provera (Human Life International)