5 Common Prescription Drugs Linked To Memory Loss

Prescription drugs taken by millions of people around the world can affect memory.

Prescription drugs taken by millions of people around the world can affect memory.

Memory loss is not always a result of ageing.

Here are five types of drugs that can affect memory.

1. Antidepressants (tricyclic)

The older type of antidepressants — known as tricyclics — have been linked to memory loss.

Some of the drug names include:

  • desipramine (Norpramin),
  • imipramine (Tofranil),
  • clomipramine (Anafranil),
  • and doxepin (Sinequan).

Around half of people taking them report problems concentrating and one-third say they have memory loss.

2. Anxiety drugs

Benzodiazepines include drugs marketed under the names Valium, Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax.

These drugs are often prescribed for anxiety and other mental health issues such as OCD, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Unfortunately they are also linked to memory loss and even Alzheimer’s.

Dr Helene Alphonso, a psychiatrist and Director of Osteopathic Medical Education at Texas University, said:

“Current research is extremely clear and physicians need to partner with their patients to move them into therapies, like [modern] anti-depressants, that are proven to be safer and more effective.”

3. Statins

Statins are prescribed to many people to keep their cholesterol in a safer range.

The Food and Drug Administration lists memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion as possible side-effects of the drug.

Some people do report memory problems when taking them, but the studies conducted so far are inconclusive.

Statins include:

  • Atorvastatin (Lipitor),
  • lovastatin (Mevacor),
  • fluvastatin (Lescol),
  • and pravastatin (Pravachol).

4. Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and are used to lower blood pressure.

They are also prescribed to those with congestive heart problems.

Typical names include:

  • Carvedilol (Coreg),
  • atenolol (Tenormin),
  • metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol),
  • and propranolol (Inderal),

Beta-blockers, though, may also cause the loss of emotional memories.

They have even been tested as a way of treating post-traumatic stress disorder because of their ability to block emotional memories.

Again, though, the studies are not conclusive.

4. Sleeping aids

People who cannot sleep are sometimes prescribed so-called ‘Z-drugs’.

These include:

  • Zolpidem (Ambien),
  • eszopiclone (Lunesta),
  • and zaleplon (Sonata).

The ‘Z-drugs’ have been linked to memory loss: especially losing the ability to make new memories.

They have also been reported to cause strange behaviours like driving or cooking with absolutely no memory of the event.

What are the alternatives?

Where possible consider a psychological therapy or applicable alternative to using these drugs.

Naturally, you should always consult your physician before making changes to your medication.

.

This Breathing Exercise Reduces Alzheimer’s Toxins In The Blood (M)

People in the experiment who did this breathing exercise — both young and old — had lower levels of amyloid beta circulating in their bloodstreams.

People in the experiment who did this breathing exercise -- both young and old -- had lower levels of amyloid beta circulating in their bloodstreams.


Keep reading with a membership

• Adverts removed
• Cancel at any time
• 14 day money-back guarantee


Members can sign in below:

A Common Early Sign Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s causes degeneration in part of the brain that controls this function first.

Alzheimer’s causes degeneration in part of the brain that controls this function first.

Excessive napping during the day can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

Scientist tended to assume that people with Alzheimer’s disease are drowsy during the day because of poor sleep at night.

Research has now shown, though, that it is due to the degeneration of neurons that maintain wakefulness.

The tau protein, one of two proteins involved in Alzheimer’s, is responsible for the critical neurodegeneration.

Alzheimer’s causes degeneration in this part of the brain first, which is why daytime napping without night time sleep problems is an early sign of dementia.

Professor Lea T. Grinberg, study co-author, said:

“We were able to prove what our previous research had been pointing to—that in Alzheimer’s patients who need to nap all the time, the disease has damaged the neurons that keep them awake.

It’s not that these patients are tired during the day because they didn’t sleep at night.

It’s that the system in their brain that would keep them awake is gone.”

Many of the key neurons are in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that is central for wakefulness and arousal.

These neurons are so important as they affect a large number of other critical nerve cells.

Mr Joseph Oh, the study’s first author, explained:

“You can think of this system as a switch with wake-promoting neurons and sleep-promoting neurons, each tied to neurons controlling circadian rhythms.

It’s a small number of neurons but their computational capabilities are incredible.

When these cells are affected by disease, it can have a huge effect on sleep.”

The conclusions come from a study of 33 patients with Alzheimer’s that were compared to normal controls.

Dementia and sleep

Many other studies have found a link between dementia and sleep.

People who sleep for too little or too long are at a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Indeed, people who sleep more than 9 hours a night have double the risk of developing dementia, one study found.

However, those who sleep for between 5.5 and 7.5 hours per night do not see declines in their cognitive health, even when suffering the early effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Those sleeping longer also have lower brain volumes.

Also, getting less REM sleep — the phase in which we dream — is linked to dementia.

During sleep the brain cycles between periods of deep sleep and then up towards shallower periods of sleep in which we tend to dream, whether we remember those dreams or not.

During REM sleep the eyes move rapidly from side-to-side (hence Rapid Eye Movement Sleep).

The study was published in JAMA Neurology (Oh et al., 2022).

The Clear Sign That You Will NOT Develop Dementia

Risk of developing dementia is one-third lower.

Risk of developing dementia is one-third lower.

Memory often worsens with age — it is a normal part of the aging process.

But, when do mild memory problems signal the onset of Alzheimer’s?

Ironically, people who realise their memory is getting worse are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, research finds.

Self-awareness, then, is a healthy sign.

Doctors have long suspected that people who seem unaware of their memory problems are at higher risk of dementia, but this is one of the first studies to demonstrate it.

Researchers at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, looked at data from 450 patients experiencing mild memory deficits.

The patients’ experience of their own memory was compared with the objective views of friends and family.

Patients unaware of their memory problems turned out to be in worse shape neurologically: they had metabolic dysfunction in their brains and more amyloid proteins (these are linked to Alzheimer’s).

Two years later, patients who were more unaware of their memory problems were at triple the risk of developing dementia.

Dr Serge Gauthier, study co-author, said:

“This has practical applications for clinicians: people with mild memory complaints should have an assessment that takes into account information gathered from reliable informants, such as family members or close friends.”

The study was published in the journal Neurology (Therriault et al., 2018).

The Musical Way To Fight Brain Shrinkage & Increases Cognitive Reserves (M)

With age it is natural for the brain’s plasticity to reduce and there is also a loss of gray matter as it shrinks in size — but the process can be slowed.

With age it is natural for the brain's plasticity to reduce and there is also a loss of gray matter as it shrinks in size -- but the process can be slowed.


Keep reading with a membership

• Adverts removed
• Cancel at any time
• 14 day money-back guarantee


Members can sign in below:

High Blood Pressure Damages These Critical Brain Regions (M)

High blood pressure is thought to affect almost one-in-three people around the world, with a further third at risk.

High blood pressure is thought to affect almost one-in-three people around the world, with a further third at risk.


Keep reading with a membership

• Adverts removed
• Cancel at any time
• 14 day money-back guarantee


Members can sign in below:

Pulsating Arteries Wash Away Alzheimer’s Toxins During Sleep (M)

Pulsating arteries wash away harmful waste products that are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases at night.

Pulsating arteries wash away harmful waste products that are linked to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases at night.


Keep reading with a membership

• Adverts removed
• Cancel at any time
• 14 day money-back guarantee


Members can sign in below:

The Foods That May Stop Your Brain From Shrinking

The number of people diagnosed with dementia is expected to almost triple over the next three decades.

The number of people diagnosed with dementia is expected to almost triple over the next three decades.

Magnesium-rich foods like nuts and spinach may help reduce the risk of dementia, research finds.

People with higher intakes of magnesium had lower levels of brain shrinkage and aging.

The study included over 6,000 people in the UK who completed a survey of their food intake over 16 months.

Those who ate more magnesium-rich foods — including seeds and wholegrains, leafy green vegetables and legumes — had a younger brain age, the researchers found.

Ms Khawlah Alateeq, the study’s first author, said:

“Our study shows a 41 percent increase in magnesium intake could lead to less age-related brain shrinkage, which is associated with better cognitive function and lower risk or delayed onset of dementia in later life.

This research highlights the potential benefits of a diet high in magnesium and the role it plays in promoting good brain health.”

Increasing magnesium intake from an average of 350 milligrams per day to 550 milligrams was linked to a reduction in brain age of one year at age 55.

Foods that are magnesium-rich include:

  • peanuts
  • cashews
  • chia seeds
  • black beans
  • potatoes
  • brown rice
  • yogurt
  • oatmeal
  • milk

Dr Erin Walsh, study co-author, said:

“Since there is no cure for dementia and the development of pharmacological treatments have been unsuccessful for the past 30 years, it’s been suggested that greater attention should be directed towards prevention.

Our research could inform the development of public health interventions aimed at promoting healthy brain aging through dietary strategies.”

The number of people diagnosed with dementia is expected to almost triple over the next three decades — partly due to an aging population, as well as unhealthy lifestyles.

Ms Alateeq said:

“The study shows higher dietary magnesium intake may contribute to neuroprotection earlier in the aging process and preventative effects may begin in our 40s or even earlier.

This means people of all ages should be paying closer attention to their magnesium intake.

We also found the neuroprotective effects of more dietary magnesium appears to benefit women more than men and more so in post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women, although this may be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of magnesium.”

Note that the study did not test the effects of magnesium supplements, rather it examined how much magnesium people were getting from the foods they were already eating.

Getting the right micronutrients from natural foods is usually better than supplementation.

Related

The study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition (Alateeq et al., 2023).