A new study from the University of California, San Diego has found that some common medications could harm memory and thinking, especially in older people.
These drugs are called anticholinergic medications, and they are used to treat many everyday health problems like high blood pressure, allergies, depression, motion sickness, and colds.
Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking a natural chemical in the body called acetylcholine. This chemical helps with muscle control, heart function, and especially memory and learning. While these drugs can relieve symptoms, this study suggests they may hurt brain health over time.
The researchers followed 688 adults for up to 10 years. The average age of the participants was 74, and none of them had memory problems when the study started. They were asked if they had taken any anticholinergic medications at least once a week for more than six months. Then, the researchers tested their memory and thinking skills every year.
The results showed that about one-third of the people had used anticholinergic drugs. On average, they were taking almost five of these medications. Some common ones included metoprolol and atenolol (used for blood pressure), loratadine (used for allergies), and bupropion (used for depression).
The people who used at least one anticholinergic medication had a 47% higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over the next 10 years. MCI means that someone’s memory or thinking gets worse more than what is normal for their age. It can be an early sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
The risk was even higher for some people. Those who already had signs of Alzheimer’s in their spinal fluid were four times more likely to have memory problems if they were also taking these medications. People with a gene that increases the risk for Alzheimer’s were 2.5 times more likely to lose memory and thinking skills if they used these drugs.
This means that anticholinergic medications could make memory problems worse, especially for people who are already at risk. These drugs are easy to get, and people often use them without thinking about how they might affect the brain.
Doctors and patients may focus on treating things like allergies or depression without knowing the possible long-term effects on memory.
The researchers say that older adults and people at risk for Alzheimer’s should try to avoid these drugs when possible. There may be safer alternatives that don’t affect acetylcholine. These might include different medications or other treatments that are gentler on the brain.
This study is a strong reminder that medications can have side effects we don’t always expect. Treating one health problem might accidentally cause another. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about every medication you take, especially if you’re older or have a family history of memory loss.
The research was led by Dr. Lisa Delano-Wood and was published in the journal Neurology. It shows that we need to be more careful about the medicines we take and how they might affect our brain in the long run. Being informed and working closely with healthcare providers is one of the best ways to protect memory and thinking as we age.
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