Stop taking these medications if you want to save your memory! (dementia risk)

If you take these kinds of medicines for a long time, especially if you’re older and already at risk for brain diseases, you might have a higher chance of memory problems. It’s because these drugs mess with that important acetylcholine.

Another group of drugs to be careful with are benzodiazepines. These are often given for anxiety, trouble sleeping, and seizures. Medicines like these can slow down your central nervous system. Taking them for a long time has also been linked to a higher risk of dementia.

Even some common medicines for heartburn and indigestion, called proton pump inhibitors, might play a role in memory issues if you take them all the time. Research suggests these drugs can change the good bacteria in your gut and how your body takes in nutrients, which can indirectly affect your brain health.

The Problem with Too Many Pills: Polypharmacy

The big issue here, folks, is that we’re taking a ton of medicines, often when we don’t even need them. And then we keep taking them for years, and suddenly, dementia shows up. Dementia rates today are significantly higher than they were 20 or 30 years ago, and it just keeps getting worse. A lot of this has to do with taking too many medicines.

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