Researchers have discovered a significant link between high use of anticholinergic drugs – including popular non-prescription sleep aids and the antihistamine Benadryl (diphenhydramine) – and increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older people.
The researchers found that anticholinergic drugs in general were associated with a higher risk of dementia. More specifically, however, anticholinergic antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs, anti-Parkinson's drugs, bladder drugs, and epilepsy drugs were associated with the highest increase in risk.
Donanemab and Leqembi, infusions that are administered intravenously, are the first amyloid-attacking drugs with clear evidence of slowing cognitive decline early in the disease. But some Alzheimer's experts say the slowing is so modest it is unclear if it will be noticeable to patients and families.
Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.
Donepezil (Aricept) is the most commonly prescribed Alzheimer's medication.
Antihypertensive Drugs
Beta-blockers are believed to cause memory issues by interfering with norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are both key chemical messengers in the brain.
There are two types of medications that have been approved by the FDA to treat memory and other forms of cognitive impairment caused by underlying Alzheimer's disease. These are cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne) and memantine (Namenda).
There is some evidence that this treatment does improve sleep quality in people with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease but so far evidence suggests melatonin does not affect risk of dementia or cognitive function. Please consult your GP before making any decisions about taking sleep medication.
The longer the anticholinergic medications had been taken, the greater the risk of dementia. For those taking the drugs for 3 years or more, the risk was 54% higher.
Claritin and Zyrtec are popular over-the-counter antihistamines. Doctors consider them safe and effective treatments for minor allergies. Both are second-generation antihistamines. These cause less drowsiness than first-generation antihistamines.
Another Alzheimer's medicine, lecanemab (Leqembi), has shown promise for people with mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. The FDA approved the medicine in 2023.
Leqembi, from drugmakers Eisai and Biogen, is the first medication that's been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, including declines in memory and thinking, by targeting the disease's underlying biology.
According to the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, regular physical exercise can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50 percent. What's more, exercise can also slow further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems.
Who is Defined as Elderly? Typically, the elderly has been defined as the chronological age of 65 or older. People from 65 to 74 years old are usually considered early elderly, while those over 75 years old are referred to as late elderly.
So what can older adults safely take for allergy relief? Wozniak: Newer antihistamines such as Claritin® (loratadine) and Allegra® (fexofenadine) tend to be safer and better tolerated.
In the elderly, should prescription medication be necessary, the first-line treatment is nonbenzodiazepines (e.g., zolpidem, eszopiclone, zaleplon, and ramelteon) as they have been found to be safer and better tolerated than tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines.