- Tricyclic antidepressants
Although they are among the oldest treatments for depression, amitriptyline and nortriptyline are still used. While they act on serotonin reuptake to improve mood, they also possess strong anticholinergic properties.
Like the Parkinson’s disease medications mentioned above, these antidepressants inhibit acetylcholine. Elderly patients are particularly sensitive to this and may experience accelerated cognitive decline, characterized by severe confusion, frequent memory lapses, and an inability to concentrate.
- Statins
Statins, such as atorvastatin or simvastatin, are prescribed to millions of people to lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular events. However, the brain is the organ with the highest cholesterol content in the human body.Diseases
This brain cholesterol is not the enemy: it is absolutely essential for the creation and maintenance of synapses, the connections between neurons. By blocking overall cholesterol production, statins can interfere with this delicate mechanism. A growing body of clinical evidence reports cases of patients taking statins experiencing mental confusion and memory problems, symptoms that significantly impair their quality of life.
