Some medications could decrease dementia risk, while others inadvertently increased it (Image: GETTY)
Research published in the medical journal has found that certain unrelated medications showed promise in reducing the risk of dementia, while others may require extra caution due to a potentially increased risk.
Anti-inflammatory drugs were linked to a reduced risk of dementia. Antibiotics, antivirals and vaccines, such as for hepatitis, diphtheria and typhoid, were also associated with a “significant” protective effect against dementia, reducing the likelihood of developing the disease.
The researchers suggested that these drug classes could offer a new route for dementia prevention strategies.
This could focus on bolstering the immune system and reducing brain inflammation as a defence against cognitive decline.
However, the study also found that certain diabetes medications like pioglitazone, antipsychotic prescriptions and benzodiazepines, which are generally used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures, showed an elevated risk of dementia.
:
Researchers have previously cautioned that doctors should assess a patient’s risk of cognitive impairment before prescribing these types of medications, and their long-term use should be closely monitored.
Looking at drugs prescribed a decade or more prior to a dementia diagnosis, antidepressants and antipsychotics stood out due to their higher associated dementia rates.
Other medications linked to an increased risk include those used for nausea, vertigo, genitourinary disorders, and upper gastrointestinal issues such as reflux disease, indigestion, and heartburn.
Laxatives, hypnotics used to induce sleep, and drugs used in substance abuse treatment were also noted.
Don’t miss… [UPDATE]
The study also examined other medications, resulting in mixed outcomes. This included vascular and metabolic medications like statins, typically prescribed to control cholesterol levels.
The research, which reviewed the medical records of over 130 million people, aimed to identify links between different drug classes and dementia in hopes of developing preventative strategies for dementia-related diseases.
The scientists hope further work in this field could advance our understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
They underscored the urgency for “more precise investigations into this” and observed that how a drug influences dementia risk can also depend on the patient’s demographic factors.
The study pointed out “complex” links between medications prescribed for other health ailments and the risk of dementia, expressing hope that their findings would spark deeper research to understand the reasons behind these variations in risk.