Certain commonly used medications may raise dementia risk
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Researchers have found a link between certain over-the-counter medications and an increased risk of dementia. Researchers reported that people who regularly used anticholinergic drugs, found in common products like Benadryl and some bladder control medications, had a higher likelihood of developing dementia with age. These drugs affect the nervous system, and long-term use may have unintended cognitive consequences. More research is needed, but the findings raise important questions about the long-term safety of widely used medications.
Source
Su, C. H., Huang, K. H., Yang, Y., Gau, S. Y., Chung, N. J., Wu, P. T., Tsai, T. H., & Lee, C. Y. (2024). Cumulative Dose Effects of H1 Antihistamine Use on the Risk of Dementia in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, 12(8), 2155–2165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2024.05.027
Additional Reading
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/common-counter-medicines-linked-dementia-study/story?id=28555161
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/diphenhydramine-dementia-risk