Common drug may speed up ageing, study finds

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Hiyah Zaidi Published July 17, 2025 10:27am Link is copied Comments Taking a common drug which acts on the nervous system could be leading to faster ageing in older adults, a new study says. Published in the journal JAMA Open Network, the researchers concluded that a high exposure to anticholinergic drugs - used in flu medicine, and to relieve motion sickness and histamine reactions - could lead to a faster decline in physical performance in older age (Picture: Getty) Anticholinergic drugs are also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder illnesses and Parkinson's. They work by blocking the action of the nerve-to-nerve signalling molecule acetylcholine, which plays a key role in the functioning of the nervous system. They affect several major bodily functions. However, by discontinuing use, the sedative and cognitive adverse effects can be reversed (Picture: Getty) Anticholinergics are common. They are used to reduce cold and flu symptoms, (diphenhydramine/Benadryl), relieve motion sickness and histamine reactions (promethazine/Phenergan) and relax the bladder to limit needing the toilet all the time (oxybutynin/Ditropan). They're also used to relieve muscle stiffness in Parkinson's disease sufferers and even used as a common sleep aid (Picture: Getty) Anticholinergics can be used to dull an important neurotransmitter for thinking, muscle control and memory, known as acetylcholine. But past studies have revealed that by dulling it, a person can experience confusion, drowsiness, dizziness and weakness, and over time, these symptoms can turn into chronic issues with memory and movement. The latest study wanted to look at the effects of constant exposure to the drugs over a decade – while looking at intensity, duration and timing of past intake (Picture: Getty) The researchers looked at the changes in walking speed and grip strength in over 4,000 older adults over time and compared this with their exposure to anticholinergic medications based on data collected from February 1994 to March 2020. Their study focused on older people, so the average baseline for the men and women was 74.3 years, with follow-up assessments around eight years later (Picture: Getty) They found that while grip strength appeared unaffected, a higher exposure to anticholinergics was linked to a greater decline in walking speed, especially in people who had taken these drugs in what would be deemed clinically conventional, so more than 1,096 daily doses over 10 years. Frailty and changes in balance and gait are linked to multiple measures of poor health outcomes, including disability and mortality. However, they also found that those who met that 1,096 daily-dose threshold in the previous six years were found to have a much higher likelihood of weakened grip as well as slower walking pace (Picture: Getty) The researchers do not advise steering clear of anticholinergics completely, but ask people to be mindful of long-term use. They said: 'Anticholinergics are associated with numerous adverse outcomes in older adults; therefore, it is essential for clinicians to avoid their use when possible, prescribe the lowest effective dose, and periodically reevaluate patients to identify de-prescribing opportunities to minimize potential harms' (Picture: Getty)
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