Posted on 04/26/2018 8:32:10 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Many older adults know that long-term use of certain medications can negatively affect cognition and increase one's risk of dementia.
But a new study suggests that some classes of anticholinergic drugs -- particularly those used to treat depression, Parkinson's and urinary incontinence -- carry a higher risk than others.
Anticholinergic drugs function by blocking the effects of acetylcholine, a chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerves and muscles. They are prescribed to 20% to 50% of older adults in the United States to treat a variety of neurological, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, respiratory and muscular conditions, according to a 2009 study. In the UK, 34% to 48% of older adults take them, another study found.
The new study, published Wednesday in the British Medical Journal, looked at the risk of new-onset dementia among nearly 350,000 older adults in the United Kingdom. The researchers found that people who used certain types of anticholinergics, such as those used to treat depression, Parkinson's and urinary incontinence, for a year or more had about a 30% increased risk of developing dementia down the road.
But those individuals taking other classes of anticholinergics -- including those used for asthma and gastrointestinal issues -- were not at an increased risk of developing dementia compared with matched controls, the study found.
"Previous studies had really only said that anticholinergics were associated with dementia incidence," said George Savva, researcher of health sciences at the University of East Anglia and a lead author on the study, in a news briefing. "But we broke it down by class, which is where our study really has its novelty and power."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Not new. Been known for decades.
And then there are the AIDS drugs....
Alcohol wasn’t mentioned. I’m home free.
I forgot to grab a handle of Wild Turkey when I was at the liquor store. What does this mean?
That you now have the opportunity to go back to the store and grab two handles of Wild Turkey. You know, since your hands won't be full of other groceries...
I don't have any trouble peeing. I may forget to unzip my pants first, though.
>> Not new <<
Well, yeah, if you only read the headline, not the article.
Who would trust the British medical system for anything?
“...according to a new study...”. Really?
“and urinary incontinence
I don’t have any trouble peeing. I may forget to unzip my pants first, though. “
For me it’s the zipping up afterwards thats the glitch.
main lesson here:
1. take as few medications as possible and only for legitimate medical conditions.
2. research the drugs you take yourself, including reading the FDA prescribing pdf. pick the safest and most effective drugs with the least side-effects, and monitor yourself closely for newly onset symptoms, which are likely side-effects of the new drug. Your doctor is very unlikely to be of much help with any of the above.
where our study really has its novelty and power.”
Novelty and power are now a facet of science??
I suppose it has always been thus.
A person should always know their limitations and their priorities. You forgot your priorities. But the important thing is you recognized this and can overcome it. You shouldn’t crave the booze, the booze should crave you. Remember you don’t have to apologize for being sober but it’s just good manners.
“University of East Anglia”
Isn’t that the home of the global warming Klan?
5.56mm
I have discovered over the recent years that I am not an alcoholic.
I am, in fact, a lush.
Had a close friend who developed incontinence issues. Later diagnosed with NPH, which is too much fluid in the sac around the brain. He also was diagnosed with dementia.
One of the issues of NPH, along with balance and gait issues is incontinence.
So it is entirely possible that a person with developing brain issues could as a result of them, be prescribed anti-incontinence drugs. Meaning the cause of the dementia is not the drug, but that the incontinence was a precurser to the diagnosis of dementia.
Doctors don’t like to discuss the effects of drugs with anticholonergic properties. I’ve mentioned my concern with three doctors. They minimize the seriousness of these drugs. There are LOTS of otc and rx drugs with these properties - like benedryl, heartburn and reflux, immodium, anti depressants.
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