New Study Links Many Popular OTC Meds With Alzheimer’s
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Anticholinergic drugs block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that performs important functions in your brain and peripheral and central nervous systemsIn your brain, acetylcholine plays a key role in attention, concentration, memory formation and consolidation, which is why anticholinergic drugs can cause symptoms identical to dementiaResearch assessing effects of anticholinergics found statistically significant associations between dementia and anticholinergic antidepressants, antiparkinson’s drugs, antipsychotics, bladder antimuscarinics and antiepileptic drugsMany common over-the-counter drugs contain anticholinergic ingredients, including antihistamine medications sold under the brand names Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton, sleep aids such as Tylenol PM, Aleve PM and U...