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Many are still unknown on dementia. Genetcontribute to your risk? And how toLifestyle choice impact your chances of developing this condition, which affectsmore than 55 million people worldwide? While researchers are still studying these factors - and seeking a remedy - there is proof that certain drugs can play a role in cognitive decline, especially in older patients.

Robert Alesiani, Pharmd, chief of pharmacotherapy atTabula Rasa HealthcareExplain that "drugs can have side effects, and these side effects bring more medicines to treat side effects - it's just a growing cascade of drugs". Read the rest to see what common drugs it says can increase your risk of dementia.

Read this then:Take this medication for even a short period of time, your risk of dementia.

A Popular Brand Name of Diphenhydramine, Benadryl is an antihistamine that can be used to treat the symptoms of allergies and colds. (Some people also use itas a sleeping pill.)

Benadryl is an anticholinergic, a class of medicine which inhibits certain parts of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the involuntary movement of the muscles in your gastrointestinal and urinary paths, the lungs, the sweaty, etc. Anticholinergic drugs can cause unpleasant side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, urinate problems and constipation. But worse, there is a certain correlation between patients who regularly take anticholinergics and those who develop dementia, according to Alesiani.

Studies show a "risk of 54% higher makeshift of patients who have been under chronic anti -colinergic drugs developing dementia, compared to other patients who develop dementia that has never been on these drugs in a chronically "He said.

Goodrx Healthpointed at a study This has shown that people who took an anticholinergic drug daily for more than three years had a "significantly higher risk of developing dementia compared to people who did not take them at all". However, it is important to note that this study did not report on Benadryl specifically (or any other individual drug).

Fortunately, short -term use of drugs like Benadryl is not a risk factor known for dementia - so don't worry about using it for a flowing nose or a case of poison.

Powerful benzodiazepine, Xanax is prescribed to treat insomnia, panic disorders and anxiety. "Benzodiazepines work in a way in the same way as anticholinergics," explains Alessiani, "and the problem with benzodiazepines is, it is well known that they can cause dependence or dependence."

At this point, research is not clear if the association between the long -term use of benzodiazepine and dementia is really causative. But according to Alesiani, the possibility is certainly there; In studies, he says, patients who take chronic benzodiazepines seem to have 30% risk of dementia than those who do not.

Read this then:Doing this at night can help you keep dementia away, the study says.

Another benzodiazepine to watch is valium, a sedative used to treat anxiety. According to Harvard Health Publishing, "team of researchers From France and Canada has linked the use of benzodiazepine to an increased risk of diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease. In the study, the higher the cumulative dose of benzodiazepines, the higher their risk. "The study has shown that the risk even higher than short -acting Xanax was prolonged action diazepam, otherwise known as the Valium brand.

Certain evidence shows that the prozac antidepressant (fluoxetine brand name), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (or SSRI), can be an appearance of dementia. According to a five -year study published in theGerontology journals: series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, women who took Isri weretwice as likely Develop dementia or cognitive disorders.

"When looking for links between fluoxetine and dementia, studies have varied from five to 18 years", journalistMiranda Stambler wrote in a place for mom. "However, the results were largely the same. Patients on SSRIs showed a higher risk of developing dementia."

As with the other drugs on this list, research is still in the preliminary phase - no infallible scientific evidence says that the use of the ISRS definitively causes dementia, but the link is examined closely.

Proton pump inhibitors reduce acid in the stomach and are often used to treat acid reflux and stomach burns. Brand names include Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid. "There seems to be a higher percentage of [patients with dementia] which are on chronic PPIs," says Alesiani, but admits that there is no clear answer on the why.

"In our pharmacy, PPIs are something that we examine very closely, not only because of the long -term risk of cognitive [problems] or dementia ... It can inhibit the absorption of a patient and things like the Calcium and magnesium ... This can increase the risk of osteoporosis, "he explains." This can lead to a decrease in intestinal flora, so get problems with different bacteria. And if patients have an aspiration, or they put these bacteria in their lungs, they may have an increased risk of pneumonia and other problems. So [when it comes to] chronic PPIs, there are many reasons why patients do not want to be on these things for long periods. ""

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Citing research showing that people withVitamin B12 gaps And vitamin D experienced "memory problems and a certain cognitive nucidity" and were more at risk of dementia, Alesiani recommended to speak with your health care provider to make sure that you take adequate levels of these two vitamins crucial.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Alesiani also highlights the importance of only taking medication when it is absolutely necessary. "It is easier to take a pill once a day than to make lifestyle changes," he said, noting that if many drugs are "excellent" and "can help people spend very difficult moments ", they can cause huge physical problems when used chronically over long periods. It is therefore always preferable to be closely in dialogue with your health care provider on the drugs you take.

"It is very important that the patient never makes global changes to his prescription drugs," said Alesiani. "The cessation of certain drugs can suddenly place the patient more at risk than to continue this therapy until a complete controlled plan to interrupt the therapy is taken into account. If you plan to change or stop a medication , always consult your pharmacist or prescriber first. "

Best Life offers the most recent information from high -level experts, new research and health agencies, but our content is not supposed to replace professional advice. Regarding the medication you take or any other health issue you have, always consult your health care provider directly.