Is This Drug Fast Tracking Dementia?
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted September 24, 2020
As you get older, there are several aspects of your health that you tend to worry about more. And one of them is your brain.
Sure, your heart… joints… and blood sugar are all important…
But without a healthy brain, you’ll lose every part – your health, your memories, and your independence – of the life you love.
And the culprits aren’t just age or genetics…
If you’re taking a certain drug your risk of cognitive decline may just skyrocket.
Are you taking it? Because if so – your brain is at risk.
If you or a loved one take an anticholinergic drug, you’ll want to keep reading.
Anticholinergics are a group of drugs used to treat many conditions: from allergies, motion sickness, overactive bladder, high blood pressure, depression, urinary incontinence, to Parkinson’s disease and many others.
Because they treat so many conditions, anticholinergics go by the names of atropine, scopolamine, darifenacin, oxybutynin… and a whole lot more.
Anticholinergics block a neurotransmitter, called acetylcholine, from binding to its receptors on certain nerve cells.
These drugs also stop a lot of involuntary muscle movements in your stomach and digestive tract or nerve impulses such as salvation, digestion, urination…
Anticholinergics are already known to have side effects such as confusion and memory problems as well as increase the risk for dementia in long–term users.
Adding to the list are the new findings from a study, published in the journal Neurology, which found that — otherwise healthy — older adults on these medications had increased risk for developing mild cognitive impairment.
Mild cognitive impairment is similar to dementia, but it’s usually a collection of subtler problems with memory and thinking.
The problems with mild cognitive impairment are many, and it may eventually progress to dementia.
And while these drugs don’t necessarily cause memory problems… they definitely tend to increase them.
(If you’re already worried about dementia or concerned about your brain health, go here to read about the foods that can SLASH your risk of dementia.)
Sometimes there are good intentions behind taking anticholinergics, but they are ultimately a very overused drug. I suggest, depending on your ailment, searching for a natural solution and speaking with an integrative doctor.
P.S. Dementia is one of the scariest diseases out there. Your best defense, is prevention. After you’ve checked your medicine cabinet, make sure you stock your pantry full of these dementia fighting foods. Read more about them here.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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