INSIDER
Some prescriptions could put you at risk for dementia
Read full article: Some prescriptions could put you at risk for dementiaORLANDO, Fla. – Worldwide, about 50 million people have dementia, a condition that’s characterized by a decline in memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Could the drugs you take put you at risk for dementia? In a review of 21 studies, scientists found a 46 percent increase risk for dementia if you take anticholinergics drugs for three months or longer. Some examples include: antidepressants, such as Paxil, Parkinson’s drugs, anti-psychotic meds like clozapine, urinary bladder relaxers like enablex, some anti-nausea drugs, asthma meds, muscle relaxants, antihistamines -- including Benadryl --, and anti-seizure drugs. Not all anticholinergics are linked to an increased dementia risk, but the ones that affect primarily the brain are of greatest concern.