Two common drugs have been linked to brain health
Two types of drugs: benzodiazepines and anticholinergics are associated with an increased risk of dementia, a 2021 report available in the Harvard Health Publishing website, citing two population based studies, says.
The studies have found that the risk of dementia increases with longer use of the drugs.
The study on anticholinergic was conducted by the University of Washington and Group Health, a Seattle health care system and the study on benzodiazepine was done by a team of researchers from France and Canada.
What did the studies find?
The study done by the University of Washington and Group Health tracked the health of 3,500 men and women aged 65 or older for a period of seven years. They recorded the medications the participants took 10 years before the start of the study. They found that 800 people developed dementia.
"Taking an anticholinergic for the equivalent of three years or more was associated with a 54% higher dementia risk than taking the same dose for three months or less," the researchers found.
For the benzodiazepine study, 2,000 men and women over age 66 who had Alzheimer's disease were identified along with 7,000 men and women who did not have the condition. "Once the groups were set, the researchers looked at the drug prescriptions during the five to six years preceding the Alzheimer's diagnosis. People who had taken a benzodiazepine for three consecutive months or less had about the same dementia risk as those who had never taken one. But those who had taken a benzodiazepine for three to six months had a 32% greater risk of developing Alzheimer's, and those taking one for more than six months had an 84% greater risk than those who hadn't taken one," the researchers found.
How do these drugs affect brain health?
Both the drugs affect the neurotransmitters.
Common anticholinergic medications like Dicyclomine, Scopolamine, Benztropine block acetylcholine which is involved in learning and memory. Apart from brain activity, acetylcholine also regulates the contraction of blood vessels, heart and digestive system.
Benzodiazepines make gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which slows down the neurons in the brain. Some common Benzodiazepines are diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, etc.
More than 55 million people worldwide have dementia
There is a need to know these studies as dementia cases are increasing around the world. "Currently more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, over 60% of whom live in low-and middle-income countries. Every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases," the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.
Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death.
What are the signs of dementia?
The common signs of dementia are forgetting things, confusion, getting lost even going to familiar places, losing track of time, problems having conversation, misjudging distances to objects visually are some of the classic signs of dementia.
People also exhibit behavioral changes like feeling anxious and sad many times, withdrawal from work or social activities and not paying attention to the emotions of others.
What are the risk factors?
The following are the factors that increase one's risk of developing dementia.
People who are older (more than 65 years of age) are likely to develop dementia.
Those who have high blood pressure and high blood sugar are more likely to develop dementia.
Obese people, those who are physically inactive and are socially isolated also develop dementia in later life.
Smoking and drinking too much alcohol also contribute to the onset of dementia.
The WHO urges people to stay physically active, eat healthy, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, maintain journals, keep up with hobbies and develop newer passions everyday to avoid developing dementia.
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