Many people take common medications for allergies, depression, high blood pressure, or colds without thinking twice. These drugs are called anticholinergic drugs.
They’re found in many over-the-counter and prescription medications, and millions of people use them every day. But a new study shows that these drugs could hurt your brain, especially if you’re older or have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, studied the long-term effects of anticholinergic drugs on memory and thinking. They followed 688 older adults for up to 10 years.
These people were around 74 years old on average and had no signs of memory problems when the study began. The participants shared details about the medications they were taking, especially those with anticholinergic effects.
The researchers discovered something alarming. About one in three people in the study were taking at least one anticholinergic drug. Many were taking more than one—nearly five on average. And those who took these drugs were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, which means problems with memory, thinking, or decision-making.
The risks were even higher for people who already had signs linked to Alzheimer’s disease. For example, if someone had Alzheimer’s-related proteins in their spinal fluid and also took these medications, they were four times more likely to develop cognitive problems.
This suggests that the combination of brain changes and these medications might speed up memory loss.
Genetics also played a role. People who had genes that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and were taking anticholinergic drugs had about 2.5 times the risk of developing memory issues compared to people without these genes who weren’t taking the drugs. This shows that some people may be especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of these medications.
So what does this all mean? The study suggests we need to be careful when using anticholinergic drugs—especially if we’re older or have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. These medications may be doing more harm than good in some cases. Reducing or avoiding these drugs before any memory problems start might help protect brain health.
This research is important because it encourages doctors, pharmacists, and patients to think more carefully about long-term medication use. It also raises questions about whether some prescriptions should be changed, especially for older adults.
In the end, this study gives us a warning. Medications that seem harmless—because they help with allergies, sleep, or blood pressure—might slowly damage our brain over time. More research is needed, but for now, this study shows how important it is to talk with your doctor about the possible risks, especially if you’re worried about memory loss or dementia.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about the power of healthy fats for brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability, and brain foods nourish your mind to outsmart dementia.
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