4 Drugs That May Increase Your Dementia Risk

April 28, 2026

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Antihistamines
The class of medications with perhaps the most evidence of raising dementia risk are called anticholinergics. ….
“That once-in-a-while use of Benadryl is unlikely to increase risk for dementia,” Dr. Gray said. …
So-called second generation antihistamines, like Claritin and Zyrtec, don’t have anticholinergic activity, so they can be a safer option for seasonal allergies,

Antipsychotic Drugs
With mental health medications and dementia, there is a chicken-or-egg question: Do the drugs themselves increase the risk of dementia, or is it the conditions the drugs are prescribed for, such as depression or psychosis, that increase it? ….

Benzodiazepines
These mental health medications, which work on a specific
neurotransmitter to suppress brain activity, have also been linked to dementia…..

Proton Pump Inhibitors
Conflicting evidence has also been reported about proton pump inhibitors, which are often used to treat acid reflux. … Some proton pump inhibitors, like Prilosec, are purchased over the counter, so their use can be more difficult to track and analyze than prescription medications.
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The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/well/mind/medications-dementia-risk-increase.html