Medications that Increases risk of Dementia
By: Arlene Gentallan
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| Medications that Increases risk of Dementia |
Old age brings forth worries of developing dementia and alzheimer's disease. Memory ticks away with time, unstoppable.
There is no single culprit blamed for acquiring dementia. But, if you're taking any of the medication listed below, dementia may be just be the thing you should be worried of. A study published in JAMA International Medicine 2015 revealed that these popularly used medicines increases the risk of developing dementia:
- Chlorpheramine
- Diphenhydramine
- Doxepin
- Oxybutynin
Chlorpheramine and diphenhydramine are over-the-counter antihistamine used for allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis, and skin itchiness.
Oxybutynin is used for the treatment of urinary frequency, incontinence and urgency.
Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressive drug.
What do these medications have in common?
Chlorpheramine, diphenhydramine, doxepin, and oxybutyninm are anticholinergics. They block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in processing memory.
It is known that even a single dose of these medication can lead to temporary disruption of attention and cognitive ability, and cause dizziness and drowsiness.
Did you know that individuals suffering from dementia have marked reduction in acetylcholine?
Among 3,434 study participants ages 65 and beyond, 800 developed dementia within 10 years. They've concluded that cumulative use of anticholinergics for more than 3 years significantly increases the risk of developing dementia.
Resources:
Gray, S., Anderson, M. et al. (2015) Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(3):401-407. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7663
