Published on : 24 Oct 2025, 4:00 am

New Delhi: Some antihistamines -- anti-allergy drugs -- have the potential to raise dementia risk in elderly, claimed a new study on Wednesday. Dementias are estimated to affect more than 57.4 million people worldwide -- a number that is expected to almost triple to 152.8 million cases by 2050. Early signs include memory loss, difficulty finding words, confusion, and changes in mood and behaviour.

An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society revealed that older inpatients admitted by physicians who prescribe higher amounts of first-generation antihistamines face an elevated risk of delirium (a sudden, severe state of confusion) while in the hospital.

“First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, are among the lead

See Full Page