As we get older, it’s common to notice changes in memory or thinking. Sometimes it’s just small things, like forgetting where you put your keys. Other times, it can be more serious, like dementia.
Dementia makes daily life hard, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most well-known type. But not all memory problems are caused by Alzheimer’s. Sometimes, other issues like depression, infections, or side effects from medication can affect how we think—and some of those problems can be reversed.
Now, a new study from the University of California San Diego has found something important. It shows that a group of drugs commonly used for many health problems might be linked to a higher chance of developing memory issues.
These drugs are called anticholinergic drugs. They are used to treat things like high blood pressure, motion sickness, bladder problems, and Parkinson’s disease.
These drugs work by blocking a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine, which helps with memory and learning. While the drugs can help with physical symptoms, they may have unwanted effects on brain health.
In the study, scientists followed 688 older adults. The average age was 74, and everyone had normal memory and thinking at the beginning. The researchers asked participants if they had taken any anticholinergic drugs at least once a week for over six months. Then, they tested their memory and thinking once a year for up to 10 years.
About one-third of the people were taking these drugs, and each person was using an average of nearly five different ones. Some examples of the drugs they were taking include metoprolol and atenolol for high blood pressure, loratadine for allergies, and bupropion for depression.
The results showed something worrying. People who used at least one of these drugs were 47% more likely to develop mild cognitive problems, which often come before dementia. That’s almost half again as likely to develop memory issues compared to people who weren’t taking the drugs.
The risk was even greater for people who already had signs of Alzheimer’s in their spinal fluid. These people were four times more likely to develop memory problems if they were also taking anticholinergic drugs.
And for people with genes that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, the chance of memory problems was about 2.5 times higher if they were taking the drugs.
This study shows that cutting back on these medications could help protect your memory—especially for people who already have a higher risk for Alzheimer’s. If you or someone you care about is taking these drugs, it may be worth talking to a doctor to see if there are other options.
Keeping your brain healthy is very important. Regular physical activity, healthy foods with antioxidants, and eating more fruits that support brain health can all help. Some studies even show that exercise can help bring back some lost thinking skills.
The research was led by Lisa Delano-Wood and was published in the journal Neurology. It reminds us that some drugs we take for one problem might cause new ones. By learning more and making careful choices, we can take better care of our brains as we grow older.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
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