Anticholinergics: The Hidden Side of Popular Drugs
Anticholinergic medications are used to treat a variety of illnesses, including Parkinson’s disease and urinary problems. They function by inhibiting acetylcholine, a critical neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning. Studies reveal that they raise the risk of dementia. For example, a University of Washington research that tracked over 3,500 older persons for ten years discovered that those who used anticholinergics on a regular basis had a 54% increased risk of acquiring dementia.
