Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

A study has linked commonly used medicines, including over-the-counter treatments for conditions such as insomnia and hay-fever, to dementia.

All of the types of medication in question are drugs that have an "anticholinergic" effect.

Experts say people should not panic or stop taking their medicines.

In the US study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, higher doses and prolonged use were linked to higher dementia risk in elderly people.

The researchers only looked at older people and found the increased risk appeared when people took drugs every day for three years or more.
Read more....

Can crosswords and exercise ward off dementia?

Challenging the brain with crosswords, working out and eating healthily may help the middle-aged stave off dementia in later life, new research suggests.

The study claims making such lifestyle changes earlier in life could prevent over 80,000 cases of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia each year.

Evidence suggests the brain may begin deteriorating when people are in their late 40s, making it even more important to take action early.


Read more....