Cognitive Decline Alert: The Risks of Antidepressant Use - AI Podcast
Apr 12, 2025•10 min
Episode description
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