Some Commonly Used Drugs Could Spur Alzheimer’s and Dementia
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iStock/Thinkstock(SEATTLE) — Seniors are being warned to cut back on the use of certain over-the-counter medications as well as older antidepressants as they may hasten the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine says that the sleep-aid Nytol and anti-allergy drugs Benadryl and Piriton contain ingredients that block the key chemical messenger acetylcholine, which is essential to healthy cognitive functions.
Study leader Shelly Gray of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy says the antidepressant doxepin also falls into this category of anticholinergic drugs, which can cause sleepiness and poor memory.
After studying 3,434 men and women age 65 and older, those taking high dosages of these drugs compared to those who didn’t had a 63 percent risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a 54 percent higher risk of developing dementia.
Still, Gray cautions seniors who might be on these meds to consult their physicians before they stop taking these drugs.
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