Are These 6 Meds Stealing Your Memory?
Medications can help us in many ways. They provide needed support in our bodies and brains for a wide array of physical and mental health conditions. In fact, about half of all American adults are on at least one long-term prescription medication.
While modern medicine can work wonders for those who need it, did you know that many common medications can adversely impact your memory by lowering blood flow in the brain or depleting important nutrients that are vital for healthy brain function?
Many common medications can lead to memory problems by depleting important nutrients or lowering blood flow to the brain.
While the following list isn’t exhaustive—some mood meds, general anesthesia, and chemo can affect brain function too—take a look at these 6 common medication categories to see if any of them might be hurting your memory:
6 Medications That May Be Hurting Your Memory
1. Benzodiazepines
Short-term use of medications, such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and clonazepam (Klonopin) for treating anxiety can be effective in acute situations because of their calming and sedating effects on the brain. However, prolonged use of benzos like these can lead to confusion and memory loss, along with a host of other problems.2. Sedative-Hypnotics
Sleep aids like zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) are typically taken as needed for insomnia. But as with benzodiazepines, the prolonged use of these meds can cause cognitive issues such as memory problems and difficulty with concentration.3. Opiates
Ideally used only for short-term management of pain after an injury or surgery, these highly addictive meds—Oxycontin and Vicodin are among the more common—can wreak havoc on your body and brain when taken for a long time. In particular, they cause memory impairment and problems with executive functioning.4. Statins
The most commonly prescribed medications taken by American adults are statins, which are used for lowering cholesterol levels that are deemed too high and can lead to a heart attack or stroke. While many people must take them for health reasons, statins are notorious for depleting co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which is essential for heart and mitochondrial function (mitochondria are the powerhouses in all of our cells). CoQ10 is necessary for protecting our brains from oxidative stress which can lead to brain disease.5. Beta Blockers
If you have high blood pressure, you may be taking a beta-blocker such as atenolol or metoprolol to help lower your blood pressure. These meds also can reduce levels of the critical nutrient CoQ10. A 2014 research study published in the medical journal, Atherosclerosis, found that lower blood levels of CoQ10 were associated with an increased risk of dementia.6. Diabetes Medications
Glucophage or Metformin are usually prescribed for insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. These medications help reduce the high blood sugar levels that are so dangerous to your overall health. The downside is they can also deplete CoQ10 as well as vitamin B12 and folic acid while increasing levels of homocysteine, an amino acid known for its adverse impact on health. Read on to learn more about why this is so important!B Vitamins and Mild Cognitive Impairment
The University of Oxford conducted an interesting study on the impact certain B vitamins have on participants who had some memory problems and mild cognitive impairment. At the end of the 2-year study, the subjects who were given the vitamins B6, B12, and folate had notably less brain atrophy (shrinkage) AND lower blood levels of homocysteine compared to the placebo group. The added importance of this is that higher levels of homocysteine are associated with inflammation, hardening of the arteries, blood clots, stroke, and dementia.Your Brain and Memory Can Get Better!
Even if you’re taking these or other medications that make you feel foggy and affect your memory, there are ways you can support and improve your brain function.Here are 3 quick tips to help you get started:
- Brain-healthy diet changes: Eliminate sugar (including artificial sweeteners) along with processed and fried foods.
- Daily exercise: Whether it’s walking, lifting weights, or dancing, exercise boosts blood flow to your brain—and entire body!
- Dietary supplements to support brain function: B vitamins, curcumins, phosphatidylserine, ginkgo biloba, among others may be helpful. Be sure to check with your doctor first to ensure they won’t interfere with your medications.
