Dementia risk increases in women due to this commonly prescribed drug

Being diagnosed with dementia is not just difficult for the individual, it also brings tons of challenges for the family. The mental health condition which gets worse with age can make it difficult for the individual to carry out their day to day functions, making them highly dependent on their family members. The condition affects the elderly more prominently than others and the signs start reflecting clearly after 65 years. However, the onset of the disease starts from middle age. Factors like sleeping patterns, diet, exercising and stress are majorly responsible for increasing the risk of the condition later in life. Another addition to this list is a type of commonly prescribed drug.

According to a new study published in the PLOS One, taking antibiotics in midlife can be particularly harmful to women and can put them at the risk of memory decline. During the study, the researcher found that antibiotics used for treating bacterial infection can lead to poor cognition up to seven years later.

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During the study, the researchers looked at 14,542 volunteer female nurses living in the U.S. The participants were asked to complete a self-administered computerised test to measure aspects of their memory and thinking. At the end of the study, it was revealed that women who took antibiotics for two months continuously in their midlife had poor memory and thinking, up to seven years later. Moreover, the effect of antibiotics remained the same, irrespective of other factors leading to cognitive declines like health conditions and lifestyle. The experts further explained that change in memory through antibiotic use was roughly equivalent to three to four years of ageing.

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed medications for several health conditions. But little is known about the long-term effect of this condition. This new finding does help to highlight a connection between long-term use of antibiotics and memory decline, but it does not specify if it can put women at risk of dementia. Besides, the research was conducted on a very small group. Based on the findings of this study, it is essential to conduct a more elaborate study to understand the effect of long-term use of antibiotics on memory.

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Many factors can contribute to dementia. Of these, there are few factors like alcohol consumption which can be controlled to reduce the risk of the disease later in life. Here are some common risk factors of this mental health condition.

Age

Diet and exercise

Excessive alcohol use

Cardiovascular risk factors

Depression

Diabetes

Smoking

Air pollution

Head trauma

Vitamin and nutritional deficiencies

The symptoms of dementia may vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some of the common signs of the condition to look out for includes:

Cognitive changes

Memory loss

Difficulty in communicating

Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving

Difficulty handling complex tasks

Confusion and disorientation

Personality changes

Depression

Inappropriate behaviour

Paranoia

Agitation

Hallucinations