Cognitive Decline Alert: The Risks of Antidepressant Use - AI Podcast

Story at-a-glance A large study found that individuals with dementia who took antidepressants lost cognitive function at nearly twice the expected rate compared to non-users Dementia patients on higher doses of antidepressants experienced faster mental decline, increased hospitalization rates, fractures and even higher mortality risks than those on lower doses A separate meta-analysis found that individuals taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had a 75% greater chance of developing dementia, and those on tricyclic antidepressants had double the risk Research suggests that, compared to women, men taking antidepressants are at an even higher risk of developing dementia earlier and at a more rapid pace Antidepressants alter neurotransmitter balance, interfere with your brain's ability to remove toxic proteins, and accelerate brain cell damage, leading to memory loss and cognitive impairment