New Study Links Popular UK Medication to Dementia Risk

New research indicates that medications for overactive bladders, used by hundreds of thousands of Britons, may heighten the risk of developing dementia. These drugs, known as anticholinergics, function by inhibiting the activity of certain muscles to prevent bladder contractions, reducing incontinence and frequent urination. Nevertheless, recent findings suggest that some variants of these medications could elevate dementia risk by approximately a third.

British researchers delved into the health records of over 170,000 English patients aged 55 and above with dementia. They compared these findings with 800,000 individuals without the disorder. Their analysis revealed an 18% increase in the likelihood of a dementia diagnosis among those taking anticholinergics. The risk appeared slightly higher for men at 22% compared to 16% for women. Specific drugs were particularly concerning; oxybutynin hydrochloride users faced a 31% increased risk, while those on tolterodine tartrate experienced a 27% heightened risk.

Given these results, experts underscore the importance of considering alternative treatments for older patients with overactive bladder issues. Some anticholinergics, however, were not associated with increased dementia risk, including darifenacin, fesoterodine fumarate, flavoxate hydrochloride, propiverine hydrochloride, and trospium chloride. Additionally, another medication, mirabegron, which operates through a different mechanism, showed unclear data, warranting further investigation.

This study is not the first to draw a link between anticholinergics and dementia risk. Indeed, the exact impact of these drugs on the brain remains elusive, though some suggest that drugs like oxybutynin, due to their smaller molecular size, penetrate deeper into brain tissues. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, emphasize the need for healthcare professionals to weigh the long-term risks when prescribing these medications.