The Common Medicines That Could Affect How Fast You Age
Experts urge caution with widely used drugs linked to physical decline in older adults.
First-Generation Antihistamines
Some Overactive Bladder Medicines
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Some Parkinson’s Disease Medicines
Certain COPD Medicines
Some Gut-Spasm Medicines
Sleep Aids With Anticholinergic Effects
Medicines That Add Up in Combination
Long-Term Use at Higher Exposure
Medicines That Have Not Been Reviewed for Years
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A new wave of attention around everyday medication has raised an uncomfortable question: could some widely used drugs influence how fast the body declines with age? The concern does not mean people should panic, and it does not mean prescribed medicine is suddenly unsafe. It means one particular type of medication deserves more careful review, especially in older adults.
The medicines at the centre of the discussion are anticholinergic drugs, which block acetylcholine, a chemical messenger involved in nerve signalling. Reporting by The Independent highlighted research linking higher anticholinergic exposure with faster physical decline in older adults, including reduced walking speed, while a 2026 Age and Ageing study found anticholinergic burden and taking many medicines were associated with accelerated biological ageing in people aged 65 and over.