Doctor Warns Against Five Common Medications That May Cause Dementia: Are YOU Taking Any?

Common prescription and over-the-counter medications could unknowingly increase your risk of dementia, a doctor has warned.

This disorder is destroying the lives of millions of people around the world, gradually depriving them of their memory and their independence.

However, according to one study, four out of ten cases could be avoided through simple lifestyle changes.

Certain factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, can increase the risk of developing dementia, as can certain medications.

Dr. Zain Hasan, an anesthesiologist based in Los Angeles, told his 635,000 followers on TikTok that there are at least five medications linked to the condition, including antidepressants, painkillers and allergy medications.

The first medication he included in his warning was an antihistamine used to help relieve allergy symptoms, as well as anticholinergics, also used to treat allergies.

These medications, some of which are available over the counter, are used to treat hay fever, eczema, hives and conjunctivitis, which cause red, itchy eyes.

However, Dr Hasan said long-term use was linked to dementia.

A 2015 US study tracked the brain health of more than 3,400 participants over the age of 65 between 1994 and 2012.

Researchers found that there was a link between increasing doses of anticholinergics and the development of dementia.

A separate 2024 study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology also found a link between antihistamines and dementia.

The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2011 to 2017.

It included more than 700,000 patients with new-onset allergic rhinitis. They were divided into groups: those who were not taking antihistamines and those who were.

After adjusting for pre-existing medical conditions, the researchers found that there was a dose-dependent increase in dementia risk.

Opioids are another drug that can cause dementia, often used as painkillers after surgery, a serious injury, or in patients with cancer.

Dr Hasan said: “It’s pretty well known, but if you take opiates like morphine regularly, they affect your brain, they cause sedation and anything that causes sedation for a long time can probably end up causing sedation. dementia.”

A 2024 study, which examined data from more than a million chronic pain patients, including 21,000 opioid users, found that those who used opioids had a 15% higher risk of developing dementia .

The researchers excluded patients who had been diagnosed with cancer, had surgery, and those with a family history of dementia.

Another drug was omeprazole, widely used to treat indigestion and heartburn.

He said: “If you take omeprazole regularly, it can increase the amount of beta-amyloid in your brain, which can lead to dementia.

“It works like a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), it decreases the acid in the stomach.” This actually surprises me, I didn’t know it was related to dementia.

A 2023 study published in the journal Neurology reported that this type of acid reflux medication was associated with a higher risk of dementia.

Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, work to reduce acid in the stomach by inhibiting an enzyme that triggers the creation of acid.

The study involved 5,712 people followed for 45 years.

The researchers looked at the medications people were taking and divided them into four groups: those who hadn’t taken PPIs, those who had taken them for more than two years, up to four years, and more than four years. .

By the end of the study, ten percent of patients had developed dementia. Researchers adjusted the data for several demographic and health factors and found that PPI users who had been taking the drug for more than four years had a 33% higher risk of developing dementia than those who had not. never took.

However, the theory that PPIs increase the amount of harmful proteins in your brain, thereby increasing your risk of dementia, has only been shown in mice.

Scientists also hypothesize that PPIs may reduce nutrient absorption levels, for example by reducing vitamin B12, a vitamin essential for brain health.

A group of sedative drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures, called benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Xanax, are also thought to increase the risk of dementia if taken over a long period of time.

Dr Hasan said: “It makes sense, it goes into your central nervous system, it numbs your whole brain, it helps with anxiety, it helps with alcohol withdrawal.

“If you take them for a long time, especially to help you sleep at night, they can cause dementia.”

Several studies have shown a link between the drug and dementia. In a study on benzodiazepines, a team of French and Canadian researchers selected 2,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease and 7,000 without it.

Researchers found that those who took benzodiazepines for three to six months had a 32 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and those who took one for more than six months had an 84 percent risk. higher than those who had not taken it during their life. .

Dr Hasan also pointed out that taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) – a mental health medication less commonly prescribed than SSRIs – could also cause dementia.

He explained that the theme of all of these medications is that they directly impact your brain, with the exception of omeprazole.

“They all affect your brain, they cross the blood-brain barrier, anything that puts your brain to sleep for a long time, including anesthesia, can cause dementia,” warns Dr. Hasan.

He urged those taking these medications to always consult a doctor before stopping, especially medications like opioids and benzodiazepines.

Dr. Hasan also suggested that those who are “fearful or worried about dementia in the future” speak with a doctor about the risks.

It is currently estimated that there are 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to reach 1.4 million by 2040.

An estimated 6.7 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today. This number could reach 13.8 million by 2060.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of people diagnosed.