Laxatives are commonly used to relieve constipation, especially when changes in diet, exercise, and hydration don’t help. But a new study suggests that using these medications regularly might be linked to a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences looked into this issue by studying data from the UK Biobank, which includes health information from over half a million people. Their findings are surprising — and may change the way we think about how often and how long people should use laxatives.
What the Study Found
The study involved 502,229 people who did not have dementia when the research began. Among them, about 3.6% said they often used over-the-counter laxatives, meaning they took them on most days during the month before the study.
Over a follow-up period of 10 years, 1.3% of those who regularly used laxatives developed dementia. In contrast, only 0.4% of people who did not use laxatives regularly were diagnosed with dementia. After adjusting for differences in age, health, and other factors, the researchers found that regular laxative users had a 51% higher risk of developing dementia.
One type of laxative, called osmotic laxatives, showed an even higher risk. These work by drawing water into the bowel to soften stool. While all types of laxatives were included in the study, osmotic ones stood out as having the strongest link to dementia.
Important Note: Correlation, Not Causation
It’s important to understand that this study didn’t prove that laxatives cause dementia. It only showed an association — meaning the two things happened together, but one didn’t necessarily cause the other. Still, the connection is strong enough to raise concerns and encourage more research.
How Could Laxatives Affect the Brain?
The researchers believe that the answer might lie in the gut-brain axis — the connection between the gut and the brain. Our intestines are home to trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms, known as the gut microbiome. This complex system plays an important role in overall health, including how the brain functions.
Taking laxatives regularly could disrupt this system. For example, they might reduce the diversity of gut bacteria, interfere with nerve signals, or cause the body to produce substances that are harmful to the brain. These changes might, over time, affect memory and thinking abilities.
What You Can Do to Lower Dementia Risk
While we can’t completely prevent dementia, we can take steps to support brain health:
- Keep your brain active by reading, learning new skills, or engaging in social activities.
- Exercise regularly, as physical activity improves blood flow to the brain.
- Eat a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and olive oil.
- Get enough sleep, since the brain needs rest to function well.
- Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or depression.
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol, as both are linked to a higher risk of dementia.
- Control stress, since long-term stress can negatively affect memory and brain function.
Final Thoughts
This study gives us an important reminder: even common medications like laxatives may have long-term effects we don’t fully understand yet. While more research is needed to confirm these findings, it may be wise to avoid using laxatives regularly unless a doctor advises it.
If you rely on laxatives often, speak to your doctor about safer, long-term ways to manage constipation. And in the meantime, focusing on a healthy lifestyle can help protect both your gut and your brain.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
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