Study Links Common Overactive Bladder Medications to Increased Dementia Risk in Older Adults

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14177847/medication-taken-thousands-Brits-linked-dementia.html

A recent study suggests that anticholinergic medications, commonly prescribed for overactive bladder, could increase the risk of developing dementia. These drugs, which work by reducing bladder contractions to prevent spasms and incontinence, were linked to an 18% increased risk of dementia in a study involving nearly 1 million Brits. The risk was slightly higher in men (22%) compared to women (16%). Specific medications, like oxybutynin hydrochloride and tolterodine tartrate, were associated with a 31% and 27% increased dementia risk, respectively. However, other anticholinergic drugs, including darifenacin and trospium chloride, showed no such link.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, emphasized the importance of considering alternative treatments for older patients. One alternative, mirabegron, showed some potential connections to dementia, though more research is needed. The study also noted limitations, such as lacking data on drug dosages. Experts advise clinicians to weigh the long-term risks when prescribing treatments for overactive bladder in older adults. The study comes amid growing concerns about the impact of certain medications on dementia, which already affects nearly a million people in the UK, with costs reaching £40 billion annually.

Daily Mail. (2023, May 16). Medication taken by thousands of Brits linked to dementia. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14177847/medication-taken-thousands-Brits-linked-dementia.html