Genius Foods

You might be wondering if chronic use of these drugs
can increase risk of dementia—and the answer is yes. In a
study of 3,500 older adults, University of Washington
researchers found that people who used these drugs were
more likely to have developed dementia than those who

didn’t use them.^12 In fact, the more regular the usage, the
greater the dementia risk. Taking an anticholinergic for the
equivalent of three years or more was associated with a 54
percent higher dementia risk than taking the same dose for
three months or less. If you take any of these drugs
regularly, it is critical that you have a conversation with
your physician about the possibility that they may be
impairing your cognitive function and ultimately putting
you at higher risk for dementia. If you are a carrier of the
ApoE4 allele (described in chapter 6; carriers make up 25
percent of the population) or have a strong family history of
dementia, you and your doctor should definitely look for
safer alternatives.

COMMON ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

TO AVOID

Drug Use Impact

Dimenhydrinate Motion   sickness Strong

anticholinergic

Diphenhydramine Antihistamine/sleep Strong