Research
Study challenges long-held fears about overactive bladder drugs and dementia
The Brief
- A study published in JAMA Network Open found that anticholinergic medications for overactive bladder may not increase dementia risk.
- The comparison was made against beta-3 agonists, a newer drug class presumed to be safer for the brain.
- The finding challenges long-held fears about anticholinergic bladder drugs and dementia.
Why it matters
Anticholinergic drugs are commonly prescribed for overactive bladder, so evidence that they may not raise dementia risk bears directly on how clinicians weigh treatment options for patients.
Who’s affected
- clinicians who prescribe overactive bladder medications
- patients taking anticholinergic bladder drugs
- #anticholinergics
- #overactive bladder
- #dementia
- #drug safety
- #clinical research
New research published in JAMA Network Open finds anticholinergic medications, commonly prescribed for overactive bladder (OAB), may not increase dementia risk after all compared to beta-3 agonists, the newer drug class that has been presumed to be safer for the brain.