Many people worry about memory loss as they get older. Sometimes it’s just small things like forgetting names or where you put your keys.
But in some cases, it can turn into something more serious like dementia, which can make daily life very difficult.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most well-known type of dementia. However, memory and thinking problems can also be caused by other issues, such as depression, infections, or side effects from medications.
In some of these cases, the problems can be treated and might even go away. But when the cause is a disease like Alzheimer’s, the damage to the brain is usually permanent.
A recent study from the University of California San Diego has found that a group of drugs, called anticholinergic drugs, might increase the risk of memory and thinking problems. These drugs are often used to treat many health problems, such as high blood pressure, motion sickness, overactive bladder, Parkinson’s disease, and more.
Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. This chemical helps with memory and learning. While these drugs can help with certain physical problems, they may also affect brain health in harmful ways.
The study looked at 688 older adults, with an average age of 74. All of them had normal memory and thinking abilities at the start of the study. Researchers asked the participants if they had used anticholinergic drugs in the past three months, and whether they had taken them at least once a week for six months or more.
Each person had yearly tests for up to 10 years to check their memory and thinking. The researchers found that about one-third of the people in the study were using anticholinergic drugs.
On average, each person was taking nearly five different types of these drugs. Common ones included metoprolol and atenolol (for blood pressure), loratadine (for allergies), and bupropion (for depression).
The results showed that those who used at least one anticholinergic drug were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive problems than those who didn’t use them. Mild cognitive impairment can often be an early warning sign of dementia.
The risk was even higher for people who already had signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their spinal fluid. These individuals were four times more likely to have memory issues if they were also taking anticholinergic drugs. People who had genetic risks for Alzheimer’s were about 2.5 times more likely to develop cognitive problems if they took these medications.
The big message from this study is clear: cutting back on anticholinergic drugs could help protect your brain, especially if you have a higher risk for Alzheimer’s.
If you’re concerned about memory loss and are taking these types of medications, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. There may be other treatment options that are safer for your brain.
Also, taking care of your brain doesn’t stop at medications. Regular physical activity, eating antioxidant-rich foods, and adding certain fruits to your diet may help slow brain aging and lower the risk of dementia.
This important research was led by Lisa Delano-Wood and published in the journal Neurology. It reminds us that medications can sometimes affect more than the problem they’re meant to treat. Being aware and asking questions can make a big difference in how we protect our brain health as we age.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about a simple solution to fight dementia and big causes of memory loss, dementia you need to know.
For more health information, please read studies that people who take high blood pressure medications have lower dementia risk and early indicators of dementia: 5 behaviour changes to look for after age 50.
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