Posted on
9 January 2025
Read time
1 minute
This work, conducted by ACHA researchers in collaboration with University College London and the Universities of Birmingham and Hong Kong, looked at exposure to drugs with important side effects, anticholinergic effects, that could influence memory and thinking.
The researchers used data from a large birth cohort study supported by the Medical Research Council to look at how taking drugs with anticholinergic effects in the past, and at present, affected memory and thinking.
They found that previous exposure could have long-lasting effects on remembering words, even after the drugs with side-effects had been stopped. Patients who were still taking the drugs at the time their memory and thinking were tested also showed evidence of thinking more slowly.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence that drugs with anticholinergic effects can harm memory and thinking, even after they have been stopped. It may contribute, in the future, to doctors changing how they use these medications. You can read more about the research here.
