Millions Use This Medication Every Day—Could It Be Linked to Dementia?
Memory Problems Are Not Always Dementia
This distinction is especially important for older adults.
Someone taking a medication may experience:
Sleepiness
Difficulty concentrating
Temporary confusion
Fatigue
Slower thinking
These symptoms can have many causes.
They do not automatically mean that the person is developing dementia.
Dementia generally refers to a persistent decline in cognitive abilities that interferes with everyday life.
Medication-related confusion or cognitive symptoms can sometimes improve when the underlying medication problem is addressed.
That’s why a proper medical evaluation is much more useful than trying to diagnose yourself from an internet headline.
Why Doctors Should Review Medication Lists Regularly
Older adults frequently take multiple medications.
A person might take medicine for:
Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Diabetes
Arthritis
Heart disease
Glaucoma
Allergies
Sleep
Anxiety
When several medicines are taken together, there can be interactions or overlapping side effects.
That’s why medication reviews are useful, particularly when someone develops a new symptom.
If an older family member suddenly becomes confused, unusually sleepy or has noticeable changes in memory, it is worth discussing the complete medication list with a healthcare professional.
That list should include:
Prescription medicines
Over-the-counter medicines
Eye drops
Vitamins
Supplements
Herbal products
Even something that seems insignificant can be relevant.
Should People Stop Their Glaucoma Eye Drops?
No—not because of this study alone.
This is extremely important.
If someone has glaucoma and suddenly stops treatment, their eye pressure may increase.
Untreated or poorly controlled glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and cause permanent vision loss.
The decision to change glaucoma treatment should be made by an eye doctor.
If you are concerned about a medication because of this research, a much better approach is to ask:
“Is this medication still the best option for me, and are there alternatives I should consider?”
Your doctor can evaluate your eye pressure, glaucoma severity, other health conditions and medications before deciding whether any change is appropriate.
What If You Have Been Taking Brimonidine for Years?
Don’t panic.
The study does not say that everyone who uses brimonidine will develop dementia.
It found an association in a specific group of older adults with glaucoma.
Individual risk can be very different.
If you have been using the medication successfully and your glaucoma is controlled, the benefits may be important.
Your ophthalmologist can determine whether the treatment remains appropriate.
If you have noticed new memory problems, confusion or other symptoms, mention them at your next appointment—or sooner if the symptoms are significant.
What If You Use a Different Glaucoma Eye Drop?
The study looked at several medication classes.
Interestingly, the researchers did not find the same dementia association for every glaucoma medication class.
The reported association was specifically seen with alpha-adrenergic agonists.
Other categories studied included beta-blockers, prostaglandins, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and miotics, and the researchers did not find a statistically significant association with dementia for those classes in their analysis. (PubMed Central (PMC))
That does not prove that every other glaucoma medication is completely risk-free.
It simply means that this particular study did not find the same association for those groups.
Could the Glaucoma Itself Be Part of the Story?
Possibly.
This is one of the reasons researchers are being cautious about interpreting the results.
Glaucoma is a disease involving the optic nerve, and researchers have been interested in whether there are connections between glaucoma and neurodegenerative conditions.
The relationship is complex.
Some studies have reported associations between glaucoma and dementia, while others have not found the same relationship.
If glaucoma itself is associated with changes in neurological health, separating the effect of the disease from the effect of its treatment becomes much more difficult.
That’s another reason why a single observational study cannot establish causation.
Why More Research Is Needed
A good scientific finding often leads to more questions than answers.
This study raises several interesting questions:
Could the association be reproduced in a much larger population?
Would the same result appear in people from different countries?
Does the risk differ according to the specific drug?
Does the dose matter?
Does the duration of treatment matter?
Does the risk change when the medication is discontinued?
Could glaucoma severity explain part of the association?
Could other medical conditions explain some of the findings?
Are there biological mechanisms that could explain the relationship?
These are the kinds of questions future studies need to answer.
What Should Patients Do?
If you currently use glaucoma medication, the most practical approach is simple.
Keep taking your medication as prescribed
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Attend your eye appointments
Regular monitoring allows your doctor to check eye pressure and optic-nerve health.
Report new symptoms
If you experience unusual confusion, memory changes, dizziness, fatigue or other concerning symptoms, mention them.
Keep an updated medication list
Include every prescription, over-the-counter medicine, supplement and eye drop.
Ask about alternatives if you’re concerned
Your doctor can explain the potential benefits and risks of different treatments.
Don’t rely on social-media headlines
A headline may leave out important details such as the study size, population, medication class and difference between association and causation.
The 33% Figure Needs Careful Interpretation
The phrase “33% increased risk” sounds alarming when presented without context.
But the research result was:
Each year of alpha-adrenergic agonist use in the study’s eight-year exposure window was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.33 for all-cause dementia.
That is a statistical finding.
It is not a prediction that one out of every three people taking the medication will develop dementia.
It is also not evidence that the medication “destroys the brain.”
The study did not demonstrate that.
The researchers concluded that exposure appeared to be associated with dementia risk among older adults with treated glaucoma and that additional research is needed. (PubMed Central (PMC))
That wording is much more accurate than the dramatic language commonly used in viral posts.
What About the Picture Showing Capsules?
The picture accompanying the viral claim can be misleading.
It shows what appears to be capsules or pills next to an image of the brain.
But the research behind the 33% figure concerns glaucoma eye drops, not a generic capsule medication.
That distinction is important because people who see the image might incorrectly assume that researchers have discovered a common oral pill that causes dementia.
That’s not what this particular study found.
The medications involved are ophthalmic treatments used to lower pressure in the eye.
A Broader Lesson About Medication Headlines
This isn’t the first time a study has been turned into a dramatic online warning.
A headline might say:
“This medicine increases dementia risk by 33%.”
But the original research may actually say:
“Among a specific group of older adults, exposure to a particular medication was statistically associated with a 33% higher relative risk.”
Those are very different messages.
The second version tells you:
Who was studied
What medication was involved
What outcome was measured
That the result was an association
That the percentage is relative
That it doesn’t automatically prove causation
Those details matter.
When Should Memory Changes Be Checked?
If you or someone you know develops persistent changes in memory or thinking, it’s worth speaking with a healthcare professional.
Pay attention to changes such as:
Frequently forgetting important information
Getting lost in familiar places
Difficulty managing normal daily tasks
Repeatedly asking the same questions
Trouble managing medications
Difficulty handling finances
Significant changes in communication
Noticeable changes in personality or behavior
There are many possible causes of cognitive symptoms.
Medication effects are only one possibility.
Sleep problems, depression, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems, infections, vascular disease and neurological conditions can also contribute.
A proper evaluation can help identify the cause.
What If Confusion Happens Suddenly?
Sudden confusion is different from gradual memory decline.
If someone suddenly becomes confused over hours or a few days, particularly an older adult, it can be a sign of delirium.
Possible causes include:
Medication reactions
Infections
Dehydration
Metabolic problems
Low oxygen
Medication withdrawal
Other acute illnesses
Sudden confusion should be medically evaluated rather than automatically being labeled dementia.
Final Thoughts
A 2025 study found that among 521 older adults with glaucoma, each year of exposure to alpha-adrenergic agonist eye drops was associated with a 33% higher relative risk of developing all-cause dementia during the study’s analysis. The medications in this class include glaucoma treatments such as brimonidine and apraclonidine. (PubMed Central (PMC))
But there is a major difference between saying a medication “may be linked to dementia” and saying that it causes dementia.
The study was observational and cannot establish that the eye drops caused the dementia.
The research also does not mean that everyone taking these medications has a 33% chance of developing dementia.
And the image’s suggestion of a daily capsule is misleading because the study concerned eye drops, not a general prescription pill.
If you use an alpha-adrenergic glaucoma medication, don’t stop it on your own. Controlling glaucoma is important because untreated eye disease can lead to permanent vision loss.
Instead, if you’re concerned about this research, talk with your ophthalmologist. Ask whether your current treatment remains appropriate and whether your individual circumstances suggest considering another option.
The real takeaway isn’t “stop this medicine.” It’s that researchers have identified a possible association that deserves further investigation—and patients should discuss medication risks and benefits with their healthcare professionals rather than making sudden treatment decisions based on a viral headline.
