Many people take common medications to help with allergies, colds, high blood pressure, or even depression.
These drugs, known as anticholinergic medications, have been used for many years and are often considered safe.
However, a new study from the University of California, San Diego, has found that these medications may quietly increase the risk of memory and thinking problems, especially in older adults and people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
In this study, 688 older adults with an average age of 74 took part. At the beginning of the study, none of them showed signs of memory or thinking issues.
Over the next 10 years, the researchers kept track of which participants used anticholinergic medications and how often they took them. About one-third of the people in the study were taking these drugs, with some using up to five different types.
The results were concerning. People who took one or more of these medications had a 47% higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment—a condition where memory and thinking abilities start to decline. This is not full-blown dementia, but it can be an early warning sign.
The risk was even greater for people who already had signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their brain or had genes that made them more likely to get Alzheimer’s.
For example, participants who had Alzheimer’s-related proteins in their spinal fluid and were using anticholinergic drugs were four times more likely to develop memory and thinking problems. Those with a genetic risk who also used the drugs were about 2.5 times more likely to be affected than people without these risks.
This discovery is important because anticholinergic drugs are often prescribed without much thought to their long-term effects. Many people, especially older adults, may take them daily without knowing they could be affecting their brain health.
The study suggests that reducing or avoiding these medications, especially for those who are at higher risk of Alzheimer’s, could help protect their memory and thinking skills.
Doctors and patients may need to work together more closely when choosing medications, especially for older adults. In some cases, there may be safer alternatives that do not carry the same risks.
This research also opens the door for future studies to look at how medications affect brain health over time and whether stopping or changing them can slow down or prevent mental decline.
In the end, this study reminds us that the medicines we use every day can have side effects we don’t always see right away. It’s important to stay informed, especially as we grow older, and to talk with healthcare providers about the risks and benefits of long-term medication use.
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