Cognitive decline can range from mild forgetfulness to serious memory problems like dementia, which can affect a person’s ability to live independently. Alzheimer’s disease is the most well-known type of dementia, but memory and thinking issues can also be caused by other problems like depression, infections, or side effects from medications.
In some cases, these problems can be treated, and memory may improve. But when the cause is a brain disease like Alzheimer’s, the damage is usually permanent.
A new study from the University of California, San Diego, has found a troubling link between a group of commonly used medications and a higher risk of developing memory problems. These medications are called anticholinergic drugs. They are often used to treat high blood pressure, motion sickness, urinary problems, Parkinson’s disease, and other health conditions.
Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which helps with memory and learning. While these drugs are helpful for certain conditions, the study suggests they may have harmful effects on the brain, especially in older adults.
The study involved 688 people, all around 74 years old, who had normal memory and thinking skills at the start. They were asked if they had used anticholinergic drugs at least once a week for more than six months. The researchers tracked their brain function with yearly tests for up to 10 years.
About one-third of the participants were using these drugs. On average, each person took nearly five different kinds. Some common examples included metoprolol and atenolol (for high blood pressure), loratadine (for allergies), and bupropion (for depression).
The results were alarming. People who used at least one anticholinergic drug were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is often an early sign of dementia.
The risk was even higher for those with early signs of Alzheimer’s in their brain fluid—they were four times more likely to develop memory problems. People with genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s who took these drugs were also 2.5 times more likely to experience cognitive decline.
These findings suggest that anticholinergic drugs may speed up memory loss, especially in people who are already at risk for Alzheimer’s. Reducing or avoiding these drugs might help protect brain health.
If you are taking anticholinergic medications and are concerned about memory problems, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about other options. There may be safer alternatives for treating your condition.
In addition to avoiding certain drugs, there are other ways to keep your brain healthy. Regular exercise has been shown to help improve memory and slow down cognitive decline. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidants and certain fruits may also help protect the brain.
This study was led by Lisa Delano-Wood and published in the journal Neurology. It reminds us that the medicines we take to treat one problem might affect other parts of our health. By being careful and informed, we can make better choices to protect our memory and overall brain health as we get older.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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