Common medications increase risk of mild cognitive impairment

August, 2010

A large study of older African-Americans has found taking common medications with anticholinergic effects was correlated with an increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.

Anticholinergics are widely used for a variety of common medical conditions including insomnia, allergies, or incontinence, and many are sold over the counter. Now a large six-year study of older African-Americans has found that taking one anticholinergic significantly increased an individual's risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and taking two of these drugs doubled this risk. The risk was greater for those who didn’t have the ‘Alzheimer’s gene’, APOE-e4.

This class of drugs includes Benadryl®, Dramamine®, Excedrin PM®, Nytol®, Sominex®, Tylenol PM®, Unisom®, Paxil®, Detrol®, Demerol® and Elavil® (for a more complete list of medications with anticholinergic effects, go to http://www.indydiscoverynetwork.org/AnticholienrgicCognitiveBurdenScale....).

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100713111724.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10614837

Reference: 

[1671] Campbell, N. L., Boustani M. A., Lane K. A., Gao S., Hendrie H., Khan B. A., et al.
(2010).  Use of anticholinergics and the risk of cognitive impairment in an African American population.
Neurology. 75(2), 152 - 159.

Related News

Multimorbidity score linked to cognitive decline

Data from more than 14,265 people older adults (51+) multiple times over a decade or more through the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study has found that people with higher “multimorbidity scores” showed much faster cognitive decline than those with lower scores, even though most o
Is there really a level at which alcohol benefits cognition?

Large study shows level of beneficial alcohol consumption much lower than thought
Belly fat in older adults linked with cognitive impairment

Data from over 5,000 individuals found that a measure of belly fat (waist:hip ratio) was associated with reduced cognitive function in older Irish adults (60+). Body mass index (BMI), however, was found to protect cognitive function.
Nutrients linked to better brain connectivity, cognition in older adults

A study involving 116 healthy older adults (65-75) has found that higher levels of several key nutrients in the blood were associated with more efficient brain connectivity and better cognitive performance.
Diet quality in midlife not associated with dementia risk

A long-running study involving 8225 adults found that self-reported diet during midlife (mean age 50) was not significantly associated with subsequent risk for dementia.
Older people less apt to recognize they've made a mistake

A small study comparing 38 younger adults (average age 22) and 39 older adults (average age 68) found that the older adults were less able to recognize when they made errors.
Does mental stimulation help fight age-related cognitive decline?

Can computer use, crafts and games slow or prevent age-related memory loss?
Education & IQ linked to later cognitive decline & dementia

Americans with a college education live longer without dementia and Alzheimer's
Low social engagement linked to cognitive decline & dementia risk

Socially active 60-year-olds face lower dementia risk
Stress in midlife affects cognitive decline later in life

Stressors in middle age linked to cognitive decline in older women

Data from some 900 older adults has linked stressful life experiences among middle-aged women, but not men, to greater memory decline in later life.

Pages

more
Subscribe to Latest newsSubscribe to Latest newsSubscribe to Latest health newsSubscribe to Latest news