Sometimes, the medicines we take to treat everyday health problems can come with hidden side effects. A new study from the University of California, San Diego, has found that a certain group of drugs, often used by older adults, might be linked to memory loss.
These drugs are called anticholinergic drugs. Doctors use them to treat a wide variety of health conditions. They can help lower high blood pressure, treat allergies and colds, manage bladder problems, and help with symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Some of these medications are prescribed by doctors, while others can be bought over the counter at pharmacies. In fact, there are over 100 different types of these drugs in use today.
To understand how these drugs might affect the brain, researchers followed 688 older adults with an average age of 74. None of the participants had any memory problems at the beginning of the study.
The researchers tracked their use of anticholinergic drugs and tested their memory and thinking skills once a year for up to ten years. To be counted, participants had to take these medications at least once a week for six months or longer.
About one-third of the participants were using anticholinergic drugs. On average, they were taking around five different types of these medications.
Some of the most commonly used drugs in the group were Metoprolol (used for high blood pressure), Atenolol (also for blood pressure), Loratadine (used for allergies), and Bupropion (an antidepressant that’s also used to help people stop smoking).
The results of the study were concerning. People who used at least one anticholinergic drug had a 47% higher risk of developing memory and thinking problems compared to those who didn’t use these drugs. Trouble with memory can sometimes be an early sign of more serious conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers also found that people who already had signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains—based on earlier tests—and who took these drugs were even more likely to develop memory problems.
In fact, they were four times more likely to be affected. People who carried certain genes that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease also had more problems if they took these drugs. Their risk of developing memory issues was 2.5 times higher.
The study was led by Lisa Delano-Wood and her research team, and the findings were published in the journal Neurology.
This research is important, especially for older adults or people who are already at higher risk for Alzheimer’s. It suggests that avoiding or limiting the use of anticholinergic drugs could help reduce the chance of memory problems later in life.
If you’re taking any of these medications—or if you care for someone who is—it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor. There may be other treatments that don’t carry the same risks. It’s also a reminder that even over-the-counter medicines should be used with care, especially as we get older.
There are other ways to help protect memory and brain health. For example, some research suggests that healthy foods like beetroot can help lower blood pressure, which also supports heart and brain health. And in some cases, taking fewer medications or making lifestyle changes can be a better option than starting new drugs.
As always, it’s important to work with a healthcare provider to find the safest and most effective treatments for your health needs. This new study shows that paying attention to the long-term effects of medication is just as important as treating current symptoms.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Vitamin B supplements could help reduce dementia risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that high-fiber diet could help lower the dementia risk, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
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