As people get older, it’s normal to forget a few things now and then.
But when memory problems become more frequent or start to affect daily life, they can be a sign of something more serious.
This kind of decline in thinking skills is called cognitive decline. It can range from small memory lapses to severe conditions like dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. However, there are many other reasons why someone might experience memory and thinking issues. These include depression, infections, or even side effects from medications.
Some of these problems can be treated, and brain function might improve. But when brain diseases like Alzheimer’s are involved, the damage is usually permanent.
A new study from the University of California San Diego has found a worrying link between a certain group of drugs and memory problems. These medications are called anticholinergic drugs. They are commonly prescribed for many health issues, such as high blood pressure, allergies, motion sickness, urinary problems, and Parkinson’s disease.
These drugs work by blocking a brain chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical plays an important role in learning and memory. While anticholinergic drugs can be helpful for treating physical symptoms, they may also negatively affect brain health.
In the study, researchers followed 688 older adults, with an average age of 74. At the beginning of the study, all of them had normal memory and thinking abilities.
The participants were asked if they had taken any anticholinergic medications in the past three months and whether they had been using them at least once a week for more than six months.
Each person was tested every year for up to 10 years to check for changes in memory and thinking. Around one-third of the people in the study were taking these types of medications, and on average, each was using nearly five different anticholinergic drugs.
Some of the most common ones included metoprolol and atenolol (for blood pressure), loratadine (for allergies), and bupropion (an antidepressant).
The results were eye-opening. Those taking at least one anticholinergic drug had a 47% higher chance of developing mild memory problems compared to those not taking the drugs. These mild issues, known as mild cognitive impairment, can often lead to dementia over time.
For people who already had signs of Alzheimer’s in their spinal fluid, the risk was even worse. They were four times more likely to develop memory problems if they were also taking anticholinergic drugs. People with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s were about 2.5 times more likely to have cognitive decline if they were on these medications.
This research suggests that cutting back on anticholinergic medications might help protect the brain, especially for people who are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease. If you or a loved one is taking these kinds of drugs and worried about memory problems, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor. There might be other options available.
There are also other ways to take care of your brain. Studies show that regular exercise can help slow memory decline. Eating healthy foods rich in antioxidants, like certain fruits, may also protect the brain.
The study was led by Lisa Delano-Wood and published in the journal Neurology. It serves as a reminder that medications can sometimes have side effects that we don’t expect, especially when it comes to our brain health.
Being aware and asking the right questions can help you make smarter choices about your health as you get older.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about Research shows root cause of Alzheimer’s disease and new treatment and findings of Scientists find the link between eye disease glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease.
For more about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about Scientists find a new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease and findings of Fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
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