The use of common over-the-counter or OTC drugs and medicines for the treatment of common conditions such as cold, cough, depression, allergies and high blood pressure has long been linked to certain changes in the brain that lead to dementia and cognitive impairment.
Now, a team of researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine has come up with a theory that seems to explain the link between common OTC drugs and development of cognitive impairment.
The common OTC drugs are a form of anticholinergics that hinder the proper functioning of a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. This, in turn, relieves the unpleasant respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal symptoms and problems.
According to Reuters, some of the common OTC drugs that work in such a way include Dimetapp for cold, Benadryl for allergies, the antidepressant Paxil and the antipsychotic Zyprexa.
During the study, the researchers analyzed the brain scans and cognitive test results of 451 older adults. Among all the study participants, 60 adults had been taking such drugs for at least a month. None of the patients in the study group had been diagnosed with dementia or any other cognitive problems before the assessment.
The team found that subjects who had been taking anticholinergic drugs showed lower levels of glucose processing in their brains. The glucose processing was significantly lower in areas of brain linked to memories that get affected in case of Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, the team found that such people had reduced brain thickness and volume in areas related to cognitive function.
“There are definitely medical benefits to all of the anticholinergic medications we looked at, which could outweigh the cognitive risks,” said lead study author Shannon Risacher, in a statement. “But if alternative therapies are available that provide effective treatment of these conditions, patients and doctors might want to consider avoiding anticholinergic medications.”
The complete details of the study have been published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
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