The headline “Alert! 8 Drugs That Cause Serious Dementia” is misleading. There is no established list of eight medications that are proven to cause dementia in healthy people. Some medications can cause temporary confusion, memory problems, or delirium, particularly in older adults, but that is different from causing dementia.
Medication groups that can affect thinking or memory include:
- Anticholinergic medicines
- Found in some allergy, bladder, and older antidepressant medications.
- Can cause confusion or memory problems, especially in older adults.
- Benzodiazepines
- Used for anxiety or insomnia.
- Can cause drowsiness, poor concentration, and memory impairment while taking them.
- Certain sleep medications
- May increase confusion and the risk of falls, particularly in older adults.
- Opioid pain medicines
- Can slow thinking and cause drowsiness or confusion.
- Some antiseizure medications
- May affect attention or memory in some people.
- Some antidepressants
- Certain older antidepressants with anticholinergic effects may impair cognition more than newer ones.
- Some medications for Parkinson’s disease
- Can contribute to confusion or hallucinations in some individuals.
- Some older antihistamines
- Medications such as diphenhydramine can cause sedation and confusion, especially in older adults.
Important points
- Temporary medication side effects are not the same as dementia.
- Some medications may contribute to cognitive symptoms, particularly in older adults or when several such drugs are taken together.
- For many medications, the benefits outweigh the risks when they are used appropriately.
Never stop a prescribed medication on your own
If you are concerned that a medicine is affecting your memory or thinking, speak with your healthcare professional. They can review your medications and determine whether an adjustment or alternative is appropriate.
If you tell me which medication the article mentions, I can explain what is known about its effects on memory and cognition.
