Headlines like “Alert! 8 Drugs That Cause Serious Dementia” are misleading. The relationship between medications and dementia is much more nuanced.
Some medications can cause confusion or memory problems, especially in older adults, but that does not mean they directly cause dementia. In some cases, the cognitive effects improve after the medication is stopped or adjusted.
Medication classes that may affect thinking or memory include:
- Anticholinergic medications: Some older antihistamines, bladder medications, and certain antidepressants have anticholinergic effects. Long-term use of medications with strong anticholinergic properties has been associated with a higher risk of dementia in some observational studies, but these studies do not prove that the drugs themselves cause dementia.
- Benzodiazepines: These medications, used for anxiety or insomnia, can cause drowsiness, confusion, and memory problems. Their long-term relationship with dementia remains uncertain, and experts have not concluded that they directly cause dementia.
- Some sleep medications, opioid pain relievers, and certain antiseizure medications: These can impair thinking or increase the risk of falls and delirium, particularly in older adults.
If you or a loved one is taking any medication and notices new memory problems, the safest approach is to:
- Discuss the symptoms with the prescribing healthcare professional.
- Review all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications.
- Do not stop a prescribed medication without medical advice, as doing so can sometimes be harmful.
Memory changes can have many causes, including medication side effects, depression, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, delirium, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. A proper medical evaluation is important to identify the underlying cause.
