When you take medicine for problems like allergies, high blood pressure, or bladder trouble, you trust that it will help you feel better. Medicines are meant to improve health and make daily life easier.
But scientists are now warning that some commonly used drugs may have an unexpected effect on the brain, especially in older adults. A long-term study from the University of California, San Diego, suggests that certain medicines could slowly harm memory over time.
The study looked at a group of medicines called anticholinergic drugs. This name sounds complicated, but the idea is simple. These drugs work by blocking a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. This chemical helps nerves send messages to each other.
It is important for many body functions, including muscle movement, heart rate, and especially memory and learning.
When this chemical is blocked, the medicine can reduce symptoms like runny nose, high blood pressure, bladder spasms, or tremors from Parkinson’s disease. Because of this, anticholinergic drugs are used for many different conditions, and some can even be bought without a prescription at a pharmacy.
There are about one hundred different medicines in this group. Many people may be taking one without realizing it. Some common examples include drugs used for allergies, depression, heart problems, and sleep. For older adults, these medicines are especially common because they often treat conditions that become more frequent with age.
To understand the long-term effects, researchers followed 688 adults with an average age of 74. At the start of the study, none of them showed signs of memory loss or dementia. About one-third of the participants were regularly taking anticholinergic drugs at least once a week for more than six months.
On average, those who used them were taking about five different types of these medicines. The researchers then checked their thinking and memory every year for up to ten years.
Over time, the results became worrying. People who took at least one of these medicines had a 47 percent higher chance of developing memory problems compared with those who did not take them. Memory loss is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease, a serious illness that slowly destroys brain function.
The risk was even greater for people who already had early signs of Alzheimer’s. If they used anticholinergic drugs, they were four times more likely to develop memory issues. People with genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease also faced a much higher risk if they took these medicines regularly.
These findings do not mean that everyone should stop their medication right away. Many of these drugs are important and helpful, and people should never stop taking prescribed medicine without talking to a doctor.
However, the study shows that doctors and patients should carefully consider the risks and benefits, especially for older adults or those worried about memory problems. In some cases, safer alternatives may be available.
The research also reminds us that treating one health problem can sometimes affect another part of the body. For example, managing high blood pressure is very important because it protects the heart and brain from stroke.
But if a medicine used for this purpose also affects memory, doctors may need to monitor patients more closely. Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, exercise, and stress control may also help reduce the need for certain medications in some cases.
This study was led by researcher Lisa Delano-Wood and published in the medical journal Neurology. It adds to growing evidence that brain health should be considered when choosing treatments, especially for aging populations. As people live longer, protecting memory and thinking ability becomes just as important as treating physical illnesses.
In the end, the message is not to fear medicine but to use it wisely. Patients should ask their doctors about possible side effects, review their medications regularly, and report any changes in memory or thinking. With careful attention, it may be possible to treat health problems while also protecting the brain for the future.
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.
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