Medications May Cause Dementia, But It Could Be Untreated Sleep Apnea

By Brandon R. Peters, M.D. The news was enough to give you indigestion: Some of the over-the-counter and prescription medications most widely used to treat heartburn and acid reflux are linked to the development of dementia. The research suggesting a possible association is the latest in a string of implicated drugs over the past few years, including medications taken to treat anxiety, seizures, insomnia, and allergies. What is going on? Before emptying out the medicine cabinet, take a moment to consider the role of untreated obstructive sleep apnea. Scientific research can be difficulty to contextualize, especially when it is splashing around in headlines or restricted to a sound bite. Nuance is lost. The complexity of the topic may not be fully conveyed. Researchers themselves may not fully understand the findings and it often takes the collective wisdom of the scientific community for proper interpretation to occur. Though a full discussion of these issues is unnecessary, it is important to understand the meaning of an "association" in studies. Scientists are careful to point out that association does not prove causation. Two conditions or characteristics may be observed without one causing the other. Statistical analysis may demonstrate that something is occurring within an exposed population more often than one would expect based on chance. This is called an association or correlation. Many times a third, unknown element may be associated with the initial measured cha...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news