The National Institute on Aging is providing researchers with $3.5 million for a five-year study on the effectiveness of an app that will help people avoid a class of drugs that could increase dementia risk.
Recent studies have found that anticholinergic medications could increase dementia risk by 50 percent and could even cause symptoms that masquerade as dementia in seniors. While anticholinergic drugs are prescribed to one in three older Americans, many people are unaware of the risks that come with taking them. This class of drugs has a wide range of uses, from treating depression to working as a sleep aid, and is available as over-the-counter medication or through a prescription.
Read the full article from Being Patient.
