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Study: Most Antidepressants Do Not Raise Dementia Risk
With the exception of paroxetine, the long-term use of most antidepressants does not increase dementia risk, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The findings stem from a prospective cohort investigation involving 3059 community-dwelling older adults who received care at Kaiser Permanente Washington. Participants used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine, tricyclic antidepressants, and serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs). Researchers used health plan data to figure cumulative medication exposure.
During 7.7 years of follow-up, 25% of participants developed dementia and 22% developed possible or probable Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, researchers found no link among the various antidepressant classes and dementia risk, regardless of cumulative exposure to the antidepressants.
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The exception was the SSRI paroxetine. Compared with no antidepressant use, paroxetine was associated with an increased risk of dementia with any exposure. Researchers said the finding suggests the drug may pose a dementia risk independent of length of use, and warned prescribers to exercise caution in prescribing it to older adults, a Psychiatric News Alert reported.
On the other hand, SARIs such as trazodone were linked with a slightly reduced dementia risk. Neuroprotective properties of trazodone have been suggested in preclinical evidence, Psychiatric News Alert reported, although more investigation is necessary to confirm such an association.
“Most commonly prescribed nonanticholinergic medications used in late life do not appear to be associated with dementia risk,” researchers concluded. “Paroxetine and other anticholinergic antidepressants may be exceptions an older individuals.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
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