The Silent Risk: Common Medications Linked to Dementia

The Amplifying Danger of Polypharmacy

The greatest risk often arises not from one medication, but from taking several simultaneously—typically defined as five or more drugs. This « polypharmacy crisis » is common in older adult care and creates a perfect storm of complications:

• Drug-Drug Interactions: Medications can interact in ways that amplify side effects like confusion, memory loss, and delirium.

• The Prescribing Cascade: This occurs when a new drug is prescribed to treat the side effect of an existing one, rather than re-evaluating the original prescription, leading to a spiraling number of medications.

• Fragmented Healthcare: When multiple specialists prescribe without a central overview, the cumulative burden and interaction risks can go unnoticed.

The consequences are severe. Adverse drug reactions are a leading cause of hospitalizations, and the cognitive symptoms they induce are often mistaken for irreversible dementia.

Protecting Your Cognitive Health: A Proactive Approach

The good news is that medication-related cognitive risk is often manageable and reversible. Key strategies include:

1. Aggressive Medication Management

• Schedule a Med Review: Regularly sit down with yourContinue reading…

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