Many people take medicines every day without thinking too much about their long-term effects. These medicines help manage common health problems like allergies, high blood pressure, depression, and even travel sickness.
However, a new study from the University of California, San Diego, suggests that some of these widely used drugs may have an unexpected downside. They could slowly affect how well our brain works, especially as we get older.
The study focused on a group of medicines called anticholinergic drugs. These drugs are used for many different health conditions, so they are very common. They work by blocking a chemical in the body called acetylcholine.
This chemical plays an important role in sending signals between nerves. It helps control muscle movement, heart rate, and many brain functions. One of its most important roles is helping us learn and remember things.
When this chemical is blocked, the medicine can help relieve certain symptoms. For example, it can reduce allergy reactions, calm an overactive bladder, or help with depression. But at the same time, blocking this chemical may also affect memory and thinking.
To better understand this issue, researchers followed 688 older adults over a period of up to 10 years. The average age of the participants was 74. At the beginning of the study, all of them had normal memory and thinking ability. None showed signs of cognitive problems.
The researchers asked participants about their use of anticholinergic drugs. They wanted to know if the participants had been taking these medicines regularly, meaning at least once a week for more than six months. The participants also completed yearly tests to measure their memory and thinking skills.
The results raised concerns. About one-third of the participants were taking at least one anticholinergic drug. On average, these people were using nearly five different types of these medicines. Some of the most common ones included drugs for blood pressure, allergy medicines, and antidepressants.
Over time, the researchers noticed a clear pattern. People who took at least one of these drugs had a 47 percent higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment compared to those who did not take them.
Mild cognitive impairment, often called MCI, is a condition where a person begins to have noticeable problems with memory and thinking. It is often seen as an early stage before more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
The risk was even higher for people who were already more vulnerable. Some participants had early biological signs of Alzheimer’s disease, which were found through tests of their body fluids.
Among these people, those who also took anticholinergic drugs were four times more likely to develop memory problems. People with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s also faced a much higher risk if they used these medicines.
These findings suggest that these common drugs may speed up memory decline, especially in people who are already at risk. This is important because many people take these medicines for years without thinking about their effect on brain health.
The researchers believe that reducing the use of these drugs could help protect memory, especially in older adults. This does not mean people should stop taking their medicines suddenly. Instead, it highlights the importance of talking with a doctor about safer options. In some cases, there may be alternative treatments that do not affect the brain in the same way.
This study also reminds us that medicines can have effects beyond what they are designed to treat. A drug that helps one part of the body may cause problems in another part. This is why it is important to regularly review medications, especially as we age.
The research was led by Lisa Delano-Wood and her team and was published in the journal Neurology. The study adds to growing evidence that long-term medication use should be carefully considered, especially when it comes to brain health.
As scientists continue to study this topic, one simple step people can take now is to stay informed and ask questions about their medications. Understanding both the benefits and risks can help people make better choices for their long-term health.
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.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
