Post by healthy11 on Feb 7, 2015 20:34:49 GMT -5
www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/02/07/these-common-medications-may-put-you-at-a-greater.aspx
A portion of the article says:
Group Health Research Institute conducted a study on 3,434 participants aged 65 and older that began collecting data in 2004 and includes its data set through the end of 2012. The study, known as Adult Changes in Thought, or ACT, was designed to test whether anticholinergic drugs built up in the body over the long term could lead to an increased risk of dementia in patients. The results seemed to demonstrate exactly that, with 797 participants (23.2%) developing dementia (79.9% of all dementia cases were Alzheimer's disease). It should be noted, however, that the study did not provide a control group incidence rate for dementia, meaning further research will be needed.
Furthermore, even after patients stopped taking anticholinergic drugs, there was no guarantee the adverse effects were reversible, as levels of the drug may have built up in patients' bodies over time. An anticholinergic drug is a class of drug generally prescribed by a physician that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Anticholinergic drugs are used to treat incontinence, asthma, muscular spasms, depression, and sleep disorders. Good examples of anticholinergic drugs include Benadryl, Wellbutrin and Zyban, Dramamine, Advil PM, and Unisom. Note that medicines like Dramamine, Benadryl, and Advil PM can be purchased over the counter.....
Note this case is by no means closed yet, although it is quite suggestive that these drugs could represent a risk factor when used regularly over the long term.
A portion of the article says:
Group Health Research Institute conducted a study on 3,434 participants aged 65 and older that began collecting data in 2004 and includes its data set through the end of 2012. The study, known as Adult Changes in Thought, or ACT, was designed to test whether anticholinergic drugs built up in the body over the long term could lead to an increased risk of dementia in patients. The results seemed to demonstrate exactly that, with 797 participants (23.2%) developing dementia (79.9% of all dementia cases were Alzheimer's disease). It should be noted, however, that the study did not provide a control group incidence rate for dementia, meaning further research will be needed.
Furthermore, even after patients stopped taking anticholinergic drugs, there was no guarantee the adverse effects were reversible, as levels of the drug may have built up in patients' bodies over time. An anticholinergic drug is a class of drug generally prescribed by a physician that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Anticholinergic drugs are used to treat incontinence, asthma, muscular spasms, depression, and sleep disorders. Good examples of anticholinergic drugs include Benadryl, Wellbutrin and Zyban, Dramamine, Advil PM, and Unisom. Note that medicines like Dramamine, Benadryl, and Advil PM can be purchased over the counter.....
Note this case is by no means closed yet, although it is quite suggestive that these drugs could represent a risk factor when used regularly over the long term.
