Laxatives are a common way to help people with constipation, a condition where it’s hard to have regular bowel movements.
Many people use these medicines, especially older adults, because they’re easy to buy and offer quick relief. But a new study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences warns that using laxatives too often could be risky for your brain.
This large study looked at the health records of more than 500,000 people from the UK Biobank, a major research database. Everyone who took part did not have dementia at the start of the study. About 3.6% of them said they often used over-the-counter laxatives in the month before joining the study.
Researchers followed these people for over 10 years. They found that 1.3% of those who regularly used laxatives were later diagnosed with dementia. In contrast, only 0.4% of those who didn’t often use laxatives developed the condition.
After looking closely at things like age, sex, and past health problems, the scientists discovered that frequent laxative users had a 51% higher risk of developing dementia.
Some types of laxatives seemed more risky than others. For example, people who used “osmotic” laxatives had an even higher chance of developing dementia. Osmotic laxatives work by pulling water into the intestines to help soften stool, making it easier to pass.
It’s important to understand that this study does not prove that laxatives cause dementia. It only shows a possible link between the two. The scientists suggest that the gut and brain may be more connected than we think. This link is called the “gut-brain axis.”
The idea is that when laxatives change the balance of bacteria in the gut, they might also affect the brain. This could happen through changes in nerve signals or by causing harmful substances to form in the intestines.
Although we still don’t know exactly how to prevent dementia, many experts agree on steps people can take to lower their risk.
These include eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; exercising often; keeping the mind active by reading or doing puzzles; staying connected with others; getting enough sleep; and avoiding smoking or drinking too much alcohol.
This study is a helpful reminder that even medicines sold without a prescription should be used with care. It’s easy to think that something you can buy at the store must be safe, but using it often or for a long time may lead to problems.
If you find yourself needing laxatives regularly, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor to find out why. There may be safer and healthier ways to deal with constipation in the long run.
More research is needed to understand how laxatives may affect brain health and how the gut and brain work together. But for now, this study shows that we should think twice before relying on laxatives too often.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease , and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 things.
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