img

New Study Finds Connection with Medications and Cognitive Problems

Posted On: 04-22-2016
New Study Finds Connection with Medications and Cognitive Problems

While it is not uncommon to take medications while overlooking the many listed warnings, a new study has found a link between anticholinergic medications and issues like increased dementia risk and cognitive impairment. This study is the first of its kind to examine these types of physical changes in the body that can lead to cognitive decline.

This class of medications include drugs sold over the counter as sleep aids and to treat chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. Examples include Dimetapp, Dramamine, Demerol, Benadryl, and Unisom.

The study involved 451 participants with an average age of 73 years. Sixty of the participants were taking at least one medication in the anticholinergic class. The study was performed by researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

The participants were involved in a number of tests, including memory and cognitive testing, MRI scans to examine brain structure, and PET scans to examine brain metabolism. Participants who were taking medications in the anticholinergic class were found to perform worse in tests for short-term memory, verbal reasoning, and problem solving. Additionally, they had reduced brain volume and lower levels of glucose metabolism overall.

More research is needed to truly understand the connection, but this could be a push for doctors to consider alternatives to these medications for older patients. 

See Related Articles

A New Study Suggests Jet Lag Can Be Treated

Jet lag is the result of waking and sleeping patterns that a ...
Posted On: 02-11-2016
read more

Alzheimer’s Risk & Air Pollution

A new study led by scientists at the University of Southern ...
Posted On: 02-03-2017
read more

Behavioral Characteristics of Children With Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a seizure condition, and while 2.5 million Ameri ...
Posted On: 07-01-2016
read more

Brain Aneurysms & What to Watch For

The brain is a very complex area of the body. Among the most ...
Posted On: 09-20-2019
read more

Can Marijuana Use Affect Vocabulary Later in Life?

More than 5,000 participants were selected for the study in ...
Posted On: 02-18-2016
read more

Could Poor Sleep Point to Higher Stroke Risk?

The study was headed by investigators from Rush University's ...
Posted On: 01-21-2016
read more

Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Driving while drowsy impairs your judgement, decreases your ...
Posted On: 02-10-2017
read more

Everyday Radiation Exposure & Safety

There are many everyday sources of radiation. For example, a ...
Posted On: 03-24-2017
read more

Female Firefighters at Increased Risk of PTSD, Suicidal Thoughts

A recent study published in the journal Occupational Medicin ...
Posted On: 06-07-2019
read more

Related Doctors

View All

Surgical Procedures

View All

Be Healthy

View All

Health News

Watch & learn

View All
GET A WEEKLY DOSE OF HEALTHY INSPIRATION
GET A WEEKLY DOSE OF HEALTHY INSPIRATION
Please enter required fields.
Subscription Successful.
Already Subscribed.
Enter Valid Email Address.