SUMMARY: Alzheimer’s, dementia, common medications increase risk; many medications have anticholinergic effects. Three most commonly used in elderly were associated with irreversible brain impact (dementia and Alzheimer’s) and despite knowledge of the need for reducing such use, 3/4 of the study cohort had been prescribed at least one (antihistamine, acid reducers, antidepressant…).
UPDATE: This post addresses the adverse cognitive impact in the elderly of common drugs due to anticholinergic effects. There is however another mechanism for dementia and Alzheimer’s. The later post, HEARTBURN DRUGS, DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER’S RISK FOR ALL? T2D, IS IT THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE!?! addresses this other mechanism for dementia and Alzheimer’s for common heartburn drugs (microbiome skew and B12 (and other) nutrient depletion) for proton pump inhibitors (PPIS) and Histamine H2 antagonists (H2RAs) .