Commonly prescribed medications could almost double dementia risk

Researchersrecently conduced a study to explore the link between a certain class of drugs and the memory loss condition. 

To do so, they used QResearch, a large database of anonymized health records, to examine nearly 285,000 adults in the U.K., aged 55 and older, between 2004 and 2016. 

The team then reviewed each subject's prescription records to determine their exposure to anticholinergics, which can include antidepressants, bladder antimuscarinics, antipsychotics and antiepileptic drugs.

After analyzing the results, they found those on anticholinergic medications had almost a 50% increased chance of developing dementia, compared to those who didn’t have prescriptions for anticholinergic drugs. The risk was only associated with 1,095 daily doses within a 10-year period, which is equivalent to an older adult taking a strong anticholinergic medication daily for at least three years.

“The study is important because it strengthens a growing body of evidence showing that strong anticholinergic drugs have long term associations with dementia risk,” coauthor said. “It also highlights which types of anticholinergic drugs have the strongest associations. This is important information for physicians to know when considering whether to prescribe these drugs.”

Although the authors said “no firm conclusions can be drawn about whether these anticholinergic drugs cause dementia,” they hope their findings can help professionals better understand the disease. They also advised patients to not stop taking their medications until consulting with their doctor.

As for antihistamines, skeletal muscle relaxants, gastrointestinal antispasmodics, anti-arrhythmics, or antimuscarinic bronchodilators, the scientists noted there were no significant dementia risks associated with them.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

3 Things That Increase Your Risk of Dementia

Did you know that as many as five million Americans, aged 65 and older may have Alzheimer's Disease? This number is expected to double every five-year interval beyond age 65, according to a statistics report.

While Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, it is not the only form. The risk factors for all kinds of dementia include age, alcohol use, smoking, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, and genetics. Furthermore, researchers have found some other surprising factors that can heighten your risk. In a recent study , researchers  found a correlation between over-the-counter sleep aids and cognitive decline. Below are three essential risk factors:

1. Anticholinergic Drugs

According to a recent study published, it was found that a class of drugs called anticholinergics is associated with poorer cognition and changes in brain structure and function. There are some you would never expect, including over-the-counter sleep aids, sedating allergy meds such as Benadryl, sedating pain meds like Tylenol PM and prescription meds such as some antidepressants and urinary incontinence treatments. 

A professor of radiology and imaging sciences says “We didn’t look at the amount each study participant took; just that they took them. However, we did see the risk heighten in the person who took more than one kind of anticholinergic.” It has been hypothesized that these drugs block the ability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to act with the receptors. In addition, the study also showed that once people went off these meds, their risk fell to normal levels.   

But, before you fret, she points out that for now, they have found a correlation between drugs and cognitive decline, but they haven't found for certain that one causes the other. “Don’t go off any prescribed medications without checking with your physician first. These drugs are used for important reasons, all of which need to be treated in order to have healthy lives. Ask about alternative therapies or have your physician monitor your cognitive function,” she says.

2. Lack of Vitamin D
Researchers found that among study participants, older adults with blood levels of vitamin D that were below 20 ng/mL had an increased risk of cognitive decline in:

Episodic memory: Memory of past autobiographical events

Semantic memory: Memory of specific learned facts or general knowledge

Visuospatial ability: The ability to orient objects in the space around you using visual cues (this involves depth perception, the ability to find one’s way home and reading, among other things)

Executive function: Reasoning, problem-solving, planning and following directions

Study researcher says “It is unknown if vitamin D supplements will slow or prevent cognitive decline — randomized control trials are needed to test this. In the meantime, older adults with low vitamin D status, in consultation with their doctor, should consider vitamin D supplements, which are relatively safe, presuming the upper tolerable limit of 4000 IU per day is not exceeded.”

Vitamin D is found in natural sources like:  
•   Fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, swordfish, and salmon)
•   Foods fortified with vitamin D, such as dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, yogurt, and cereals
•   Beef liver
•   Cod liver oil
•   Swiss cheese
•   Egg yolk

3. Heartburn Meds
Heartburn medication with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly used drugs worldwide. In a German study, the possible link among older adults between dementia and PPIs such as Prilosec and Prevacid has been discovered. The study concluded that  “the avoidance of PPI medication may prevent the development of dementia.” 

Professor  urges a measured response, explaining “This is a good study, based on solid science. However, we don’t know yet if the relationship is because PPIs lead to dementia, or that that the people who take these meds may be at higher risk for dementia anyway — smokers, heavy drinkers, obesity.”

So what is a person to do? “Be prudent,” says the Prof. “You shouldn’t stop taking these medications without speaking with your physician first, but you should be wary about taking them in the long term. If you need the drug, use it, but don’t take it just for mild symptoms."

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com      

Common Prescription Drugs Linked to Increased Dementia Risk

This is a fairly long post, kindly read till the end, where lists of meds which cause memory loss is also mentioned and also other simple diseases which can cause. My next post simple ways to improve memory fog.
We wish it wasn’t the case but, unfortunately, memory loss is a hot topic. People have countless questions about brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. What really causes it? Will there ever be a cure? Are there any natural preventatives? How do my other medications that I’m taking affect my risk of such problems?
In fact, many prescriptions have actually been linked to memory loss! We hope to answer these questions and more below. So, if you or a loved one is worried about or currently living with this problem, please keep reading…

How Common Is Alzheimer’s Disease? Most people associate Alzheimer’s with memory loss, one of first and most common symptoms of the disease. On average, the progressive (and currently) irreversible brain disorder starts affecting people after 60 years of age.  However, there are many factors that contribute to an individual’s experience such as their genes, diet, lifestyle habits, and more.
According to Alzheimers.net, there are 44 million people who have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, approximately 5,700,000 of whom are American. Health officials expect that number to rise to 16 million by 2050. And because it’s the sixth leading cause of death in America – the only one in the top 10 that cannot be cured, prevented, or slowed – it demands everyone’s attention.

10 Early Warning Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

As outlined by the Alzheimer’s Association, they can include:

• Memory loss
• Inability to plan things or solve problems
• Difficulty completing simple tasks
• Getting confused about times, dates, and places
• Inability to understand spatial relationships and visuals
• New problems when it comes to speaking or writing
• Forgetting where you put stuff and being unable to retrace steps
• Increasingly poor judgement
• Growing less and less social
• Uncharacteristic changes in mood and personality

How About Dementia?

Not unlike Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, general dementia is also a progressive syndrome that impairs your cognitive function. That is, your ability to think, reason, remember, and behave properly (if at all). Many of the symptoms actually overlap with those of Alzheimer’s disease.
Growing by 10 million new cases per year, there are around 50 million people worldwide currently living with dementia… According to the World Health Organization, that’s a figure that we expect to hit 82,000,000 by 2030 and 152,000,000.
Although these numbers are alarming, there are numerous ways to decrease your risk of development Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia – naturally and otherwise. But the possibility of keeping the number of dementia cases to a minimum seems unlikely when so many people are on medications that can increase the likelihood of getting it…

Common Drugs Like Benadryl Linked to Increased Dementia Risk

In March 2015, researchers published a prospective cohort study called “Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident Dementia.” The researchers conducted the long-term study which tracked 3,434 men and women who were aged 65 and up, and had no dementia when the study began.
The team accessed every participant’s history of drug use for the previous decade, including both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Over a 7-year timeline, they followed up with all the participants every two years, during which 797 participants developed dementia (637 of whom developed Alzheimer’s disease).
As researchers looked back on what those 797 individuals took, anticholinergic drugs became the main suspect. The most common anticholinergics participants used were tricyclic antidepressants, first-generation antihistamines, and bladder antimuscarinics. Compared to those who didn’t take anticholinergic drugs, people who did for as little as three years were 54% more likely to develop dementia.

What Are Anticholinergics?

Usually, these types of drugs are prescribed to treat problems including urinary incontinence, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Anticholinergic drugs’ main purpose is to block the actions and effects of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which causes muscles to contract, activates pain responses and regulates endocrine and REM sleep functions.
It’s just a natural fact of life – as we age, our bodies’ ability to produce acetylcholine decreases. Since the brain actually contains many acetylcholine-producing cells, as a researcher highlights, “blocking its effects can deliver a double whammy to older people.”

If you want to keep your head clear and brain functioning as highly as possible, steering clear of anticholinergic drugs seems ideal. However, it is important to recognize that the long-term study revealed only a small portion of drugs was interfering with cognitive function. So, please discuss with your doctor if you’re thinking of getting off any prescribed medications.

Experiencing Memory Loss? It’s Not Necessarily Alzheimer’s

There are reversible dementias that, although worrisome, people can treat and even overcome. Some of these problems might surprise you:

1) Delirium

Although this condition seems similar to dementia, the mental changes that occur in delirium happen within days in comparison to months or years. Another key distinction between these two problems is that with dementia, you maintain consciousness; with delirium, you don’t.

2) Depression

People with depression have likely experienced moments of forgetfulness and disorientation. A simple way to tell the difference between depression and dementia is looking at the timeline… Depressed people become depressed first and experience memory-related symptoms later, whereas people with dementia become depressed as a result of their declining cognitive function.

3) Vitamin B12 Deficiency

This crucial deficiency can lead to pernicious anemia, a rare condition associated with confusion, slowness, apathy, and irritability. If you suspect this is the case, see your doctor as soon as possible to make sure your body can even absorb vitamin B12 properly.

4) Thyroid Disease

Individuals with hypothyroidism will likely exhibit dementia-like symptoms. One of the best things you can do is get a thyroid hormone blood test to determine the best possible treatment.

5) Alcoholism

People who are alcoholic can suffer bouts of confusion and amnesia which can mimic the same experiences as someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Although alcoholism can deteriorate the ability to remember and orientate oneself, abstinence and overcoming addiction can help reverse dementia.

Think You Have a Memory Problem? This Is What You Should Do

Not all memory problems or moments of forgetfulness mean you have dementia! That alone should let you have a sigh of relief. But, if you or someone you think thinks a seemingly small memory problem is getting worse, there are a few things you can try.
First, make an appointment with your doctor and talk about your experience(s) right away. No matter the hold-ups you might have with doctors, they are our best source and can help point us in the right direction.
Second, get some blood tests done to make sure your dementia-like symptoms aren’t being caused by hormone imbalances or nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B 12. There might even be some prescription medications that could be causing your cognitive lapses. In that case, simply ask your doctor for more details about the medications you’re taking.
Third, examine your diet and lifestyle habits. This could look like cutting out sugar, eating healthy fats, and getting a bit more daily physical activity. It may be hard to make such habitual changes.
Forth, try incorporating natural supplements into your daily diet. These can include science backed herbal remedies  such as ashwagandha, turmeric, gingko biloba, and/or coconut oil !

Common medications are linked to memory loss! 

The human brain is arguably the most complicated and least understood organ in the human body. It controls everything we do, think, and feel. The size of our human brains is why we have evolved far past any other animal on the planet. We are one of the only mammals on the planet who can remember things from our past, think into the future beyond just where our next meal will come from, and constantly learn new things and discover more about the world around us.
That is what makes dementia so scary. Our memories and ability to learn are what sets apart from all other species on earth. Without it, we can’t function. Dementia takes vibrant, intelligent people and reduces them to a cognitive function of less than most babies.

This is why we need to protect our memory and our brain before we lose it. Unfortunately, in an effort to treat other (mostly man-made) conditions, we have created drugs that solve one problem while slowly stripping us of our memories. It is important to know what these drugs are and how they affect your brain so that you can talk to your doctor about your options and find a solution that doesn’t come with a side of memory loss.

9 Drugs that Cause Memory Loss

1. Antibiotics

Scientists are discovering more and more every day about the importance of the brain-gut connection. .Many hormones and chemicals that affect our brain, such as serotonin, are found primarily in the gut and GI tract. Because of this, antibiotics, which kill off the good bacteria in our intestinal tract along with the bad, have a direct impact on brain function.
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the brain relevant to depression, migraines, and other neurological illnesses.  New research shows that many common antibiotics, especially quinolones, cause extreme confusion, mental delusion, impaired cognitive function and psychiatric disturbance.

Quinolones, especially Fluoroquinolone, have come under the most fire for their effects on the brain. Others include Amoxicillin, Cephalexin (Keflex), and Levofloxacin (Levaquin).

2. Antihistamines

Antihistamines and anticholinergics are found in common over the counter and prescription drugs for allergies, colds, dizziness, and even sleep. They alter brain function by inhibiting acetylcholine, the main neurotransmitter for learning and memory. Decreased acetylcholine is known to cause dementia, memory loss, hallucinations, blurred vision, confusion, and delirium.
These drugs include Benadryl, Vistaryl, Tavist, Clarinex, Oxytrol for Women, and many others.

3. Sleeping Pills

Sleep aids cause memory loss because they dampen brain activity in key parts of the brain, including those responsible for learning and memory. (1) The most prominent of these are the benzodiazepines.
These drugs include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Librium, Lunesta, Sonata, and Ambien.

4. Statins

Statins are mainly used to help lower cholesterol for those with high levels. The problem is they also lower brain cholesterol levels, which in turn affects its ability to function properly. Memory loss caused by statins is well-known and gives even more incentive to take initiative and lower cholesterol naturally.
Examples of statins include Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Prevachol, Crestor, and Zocor.

If you’re looking for some extra help with your cholesterol levels, why not try Broccoli extract powder? Broccoli Extract is a yellowish powder that is cultivated from the essence of broccoli flowers and stems. Supplementation of broccoli extract is intended to promote overall good cholesterol levels.

5. Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics repress dopamine receptors in the brain, which are responsible for transmitting signals in the brain.(18) These drugs meant to help those who suffer from paranoia, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder also cause the brain to shrink. This affects brain function as a whole, especially learning and memory, which can lead to dementia, early Alzheimer’s, and other brain-related disorders.
Drugs that fall under this category include Haldol and Mellaril.

6. Antihypertensives

Used to treat hypertension, these beta-blockers interfere with messages in your brain using epinephrine and norepinephrine which affect memory loss, especially your verbal memory.
Antihypertensives are drugs that end in -olol. Common names for these drugs are Tenormin, Coreg, Lopressor, Toprol, Inderal, Betaspace, and Timoptic.

7. Antidepressants and Anti-anxiety

Antidepressants, such as Elavil, Anafranil, Norpramin, and Pamelor, block the action of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which impairs your memory.
Antianxiety drugs, including Xanax, Librium, Klonopin, Valium, and Restoril, dampen activity in the brain related to short and long-term memory.

8. Narcotic Painkillers and Anticonvulsants

Both of these drugs decrease the flow of brain signals to the central nervous system and the emotional reaction to pain. This “slow down” of the brain inhibits its function, including learning and memory.
These drugs include Fentanyl, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, Diamox, Tegretol, Potiga, and Neurontin.

9. Parkinson’s Drugs

These drugs act differently than many of the ones previously mentioned. Parkinson’s drugs activate signaling pathways for dopamine. These pathways function largely for learning and memory, so memory loss which can lead to Alzheimer’s and dementia is a risk.
Parkinson’s drugs include Apokyn, Mirapex, and Requip.

Quick Recap: Medications Linked to Memory Loss

1. Amoxicillin
2. Cephalexin (Keflex)
3. Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
4. Benadryl
5. Vistaryl
6. Tavist
7. Clarinex
8. Oxytrol for Women
9. Xanax
10. Valium
11. Ativan
12. Librium
13. Lunesta
14. Sonata
15. Ambien
16. Lipitor
17. Lescol
18. Mevacor
19. Prevachol
20. Crestor
21. Zocor
22. Haldol
23. Mellaril
24. Tenormin
25. Coreg
26. Lopressor
27. Topro
28. Inderal
29. Betaspace
30. Timoptic
31. Elavil
32. Librium
33. Klonopin
34. Valium
35. Restoril
36. Fentanyl
37. Hydrocodone
38. Morphine
39. Oxycodone
40. Diamox
41. Tegretol
42. Potiga
43. Neurontin
44. Apokyn
45. Mirapex
46. Requip

Next Steps

The drugs listed above are just a few of the hundreds that fall into these categories. It is important that you know what you are taking and what the potential side effects are. If you are taking one of the over-the-counter options above and it is for occasional use, try to find an alternative. However, if you are currently a drug that is for a chronic illness and prescribed by a doctor, do not go off of the drug. Please talk to your doctor first about your concerns so that you can find an alternative solution.

ps- see my next post for natural remedies for these problems.

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com   

Anticholinergic Medication Linked to Dementia

A class of medication that is commonly used to treat conditions such as incontinence, depression, and gastrointestinal disorders has been linked with an increased risk of getting dementia up to twenty years later.

 

In what is considered to be the largest study to date on the alleged link, researchers are encouraging doctors to seriously reconsider their options when it comes to choices of treatment.

The medical records of more than 300,000 individuals over the age of 65 were collected by an international team of researchers, a sample that includes close to 50,000 patients diagnosed with dementia. More than 27 million prescriptions for some form of anticholinergic medication were found among the records.

On analyzing these figures, the researchers found the proportion was skewed towards those with dementia, with 35% of those with the condition having been prescribed at least one anticholinergic fifteen to twenty years in the past.

In comparison, just 30% of those without dementia had a prescription. The numbers might seem close, but the difference is significant enough to warrant concern.

A pharmacologist  says that, “anticholinergics, medications that block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, have previously been implicated as a potential cause of cognitive impairment.

The neurotransmitter plays a key role in the body’s neuromuscular communications, making it a choice target for a wide range of conditions that affect everything from fine motor skills to bladder control.

Having so many jobs to carry out means that a medication that beneficially interferes with one of the neurotransmitter’s tasks will no doubt have some undesired effect elsewhere. Doctors need to weigh these pros and cons when providing patients with prescriptions – having solid data like this will help them to make better choices in future. 

A medical scientist says that “physicians should review all the anticholinergic medications – including over-the-counter drugs – that patients of all ages are taking and determine safe ways to take individuals off anticholinergic medications in the interest of preserving brain health.”

While being up-to-date on the research is a positive thing that can spark important conversations between doctors and their patients, it’s important to consider the evidence in context. This means not dropping your prescription.

A clinical psychiatrist  says that “further research is needed to understand possible reasons for this link. In the meantime, I strongly advise patients with any concerns to continue taking their medicines until they have consulted their doctor or pharmacist.”
Dementia is an increasing concern in our aging society, with diagnoses set to be more than double in countries such as the United States by 2050. In its mild form, it robs individuals of memory and at its worst, it contributes to an early death.

While headway is being made on ways to diagnose it earlier, limit risks, and even limit its impact, there is still much to learn about how the brain’s cognitive functions decline with age.

We cannot rewind the clock back a decade or two for those who are currently suffering from dementia, but with this type of evidence, it’s possible to strike the right balance in treatments to limit the risk for others.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                              https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
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Risky Mix – cocktail of popular drugs may clod brain

Many people are unaware that dozens of painkillers, antihistamines & psychiatric medications-from drugstore can adversely affect brain function, mostly the elderly. Regular use of multiple medications that have this effect has been linked to cognitive impairment & memory loss.

Called anticholinergics, the drugs block the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, sometimes as a direct action, but often as a side effect. Acetychloline is a chemical messenger with a range of functions n the body, memory production & cognitive function among them.

The difficulty for patients is that the effect of anticholinergic drugs is cumulative. Doctors are not always aware of all the medications their patients take, & they do not always think to review the anticholinergic properties of the ones they prescribe. It is a particular problem for older patients, who are more vulnerable to the effects of these drugs & who tend to take more mediations overall.

After following more than 13,000 British patients for more than 2 years, researchers found that those taking more than one anticholinergic drug scored lower on tests of cognitive function than those who were not using any such drugs & that the death rate for the heavy users during the course of the study was 68% higher.

According to one researcher, it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of these deaths, though they took utmost precaution in giving doses of the said medicine.

According to another researcher, anticholinergics take a toll on bodily organs & systems like the cardiovascular system, although there are no studies to confirm it. Anticholinergics have also been implicated in the delirium that intensive-care patients frequently develop in the hospital.

A researcher has said, if one is taking one of the drugs, anticholinergic, for 60 days, and then one doubles the odds of developing mild cognitive impairment. According to Alzheimer’s Association, studies have shown that up to 25% of the patients who seek help have reversible disorders, including those caused by polypharmacy- taking a combination of medications.

The reasons why many doctors still prescribe medications with anticholinergic activities is that some are unaware of the medicines their patients are taking, and also the list of drugs with anticholinergic properties is a long one.

The heart drug digoxin, the blood thinner warfarin, the painkiller codeine & prednisone are considered mild anticholinergic. Those with the most severe effects include Paxil, Benadryl, a drug for overactive bladder called oxybutynin & the schizophrenia drug, clozapine.

 Drug                                common name

Digoxin                         lanoxin

warfarin                         anti-coagulant

 codeine                        Linctus, cough syrups

Prednisone                   cortico steroids

immuno-suppressants       wyslone, primacord, inhalers

paxil                                  paxil

oxybutynin                        analgesics

clozapine               clozapin