How often do you use cold medications when you are sick? How long have you been taking your tri-cyclic anti-depressant? Your answer could be used to determine your likelihood of developing dementia when you’re older.
A new report in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) has shown a strong link between the use of anti-cholinergic buyambienmed.com drugs, such as Benadryl, Advil, and Paxil, and an increased risk for dementia.
Short term use of these anti-cholinergic drugs may not cause any problems, but their effects appear to be cumulative. The longer these drugs are taken, the greater the chance of developing dementia and other cognitive problems as you age. This is problematic for those people who have been taking anti-cholinergic drugs for years. People on anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, Parkinson’s medications, and drugs for an over-active bladder may have felt they had little choice in the matter, but now that concerns are rising, it might be a good time to research other options.
The reason that anti-cholinergic drugs may be harmful to your brain is because they work by blocking acetylcholine. That’s the chemical that transmits electrical impulses through your brain and other nerves, allowing you to learn and remember. The longer acetylcholine is blocked, the more the brain appears to shrink.
If you have been taking anti-cholinergic drugs, now may be a good time to try to wean yourself off of them, particularly if you already have a family history of dementia. Below is a link containing a list of common anti-cholinergic drugs.
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2015/02/01/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-anticholinergic-drugs/
Excerpt: “The ACT results add to mounting evidence that anticholinergics aren’t drugs to take long-term if you want to keep a clear head, and keep your head clear into old age. The body’s production of acetylcholine diminishes with age, so blocking its effects can deliver a double whammy to older people. It’s not surprising that problems with short-term memory, reasoning, and confusion lead the list of anticholinergic side effects, which also include drowsiness, dry mouth, urine retention, and constipation”.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-anticholinergic-drugs-like-benadryl-linked-increased-dementia-risk-201501287667
About the Author: Rebecca Wong has a BA in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and has been working in the herbal business since 2000. She studied at the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine under respected authorities Paul Des Rosiers and Vu Le, and graduated from the East West School of Planetary Herbology under Michael Tierra. She received training as a yoga teacher at The Branches in Kitchener/Waterloo, and therapeutic yoga teacher training from the School for Somatic Soulwork under Deniz Aydoslu. She now teaches yoga for anxiety, depression and burnout at Rebecca's Restful Yoga Studio in Toronto.
Substances commonly abused by students in college include:
• Alcohol.
• Marijuana.
• Prescription medications (including stimulants, central nervous system depressants, and narcotics)
• Over-the-counter drugs.
• Cocaine.
• Heroin.
• Ecstasy