Increased Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s with Long Term Medication Use

Benadryl is harmless right? Wrong. A new study released in June 2019 reveals that regular use of anticholinergic medications, which yes does include the “benign” Benadryl, in people 55 and older increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life (1). Anticholinergic medications range from the very easily accessible, over the counter Benadryl to prescribed medications such as antidepressants, seizure medications, and medications commonly used for overactive bladder. This is very frightening because this is a huge class of medications with a variety of indications and was previously thought to be relatively safe to use. We are now starting to think differently and prescribe safer alternatives for these common ailments.

Here at WellMax clinic, our focus is early detection and prevention of a variety of disease processes, one of which is Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We utilize the Bredesen Protocol to evaluate patients with cognitive impairment, which focuses on identifying reversible causes of memory loss. This certainly includes reviewing patient’s current medications to ensure they are not taking something that could put them at risk. If you are concerned about your medications, talk to your doctor or schedule a consult at WellMax to ensure you are receiving the best health care.

1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2736353