Toxins in the Development of Neurological Disease

The correlation between heavy metal exposure and dementia is famous enough that any book about dementia must include it in order to be comprehensive. But in order for a discussion about heavy metals to be valuable, it also needs to include information about how to treat the problem. In this chapter, we’re going to talk about heavy metals as well as other toxins that have been correlated with the later development of dementia and movement disorders like multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In a later chapter, we’ll discuss EDTA and other chelators that can be used to remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body.

There are a number of toxins that have been implicated in the development of dementia. Heavy metals are perhaps the most widely known of the toxins that can eventually lead to cognitive decline, but there are five basic categories of neurotoxins that can play a role in the development of dementia: 

• Heavy metals

• Pesticides / insecticides

• Antimicrobials

• Industrial / commercial chemicals

• Air pollutants

• Medications including Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs

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Heavy Metals, Dementia, Movement Disorders, and Other Neurological Problems

Any honest discussion of the heavy metals should mention that this is a complex topic. Our bodies are naturally electrical and we need certain metals, even some of the so-called “heavy metals” in trace quantities in order to neutralize free radicals and maintain our electrical nature. 

The connection between heavy metal exposure and neurological disorders is something that’s been in the news for quite some time now. Alzheimer’s disease is probably most famously tied to heavy metal exposure, but the development of other types of dementia and neurological disorders like autism and multiple sclerosis are also correlated with heavy metal exposure too. 

A number of studies have been able to show a very clear association between neurotoxins and Alzheimer’s disease, but also movement disorders, and other neurological problems. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / ALS, multiple sclerosis / MS, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia are all correlated with heavy metal exposure as well. Exposure to heavy metals, in particular, have been correlated strongly with the following:

• Cognitive dysfunction

• Neuron death

• Production of amyloid beta proteins

• Production of neurofibrillary tangles

• Signaling pathway modifications

• Cellular stress

• Brain inflammation

• Epigenetic modification

• Demyelination of nervous system tissues

• Blood-brain barrier breakdown

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Our bodies need certain minerals in order to be healthy. Essential minerals such as iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, iodine, selenium, zinc, and manganese (among others) are essential for proper brain function. As such, the blood-brain barrier is built to selectively transport certain minerals through the bloodstream to the brain. If the body is exposed to a particular trace mineral in quantities that exceed what’s healthy for the body, the blood-brain barrier stands sentinel to protect the nervous system from negative effects of over-exposure. Other non-nutritive minerals and metals can also pass the blood-brain barrier if the blood-brain barrier is damaged by mercury or other toxic heavy metals.

The following heavy metals are widespread in the environment. Some are also persistent. In other words, it’s easy to be exposed to these heavy metals and, in some cases, heavy metal exposure can lead to the development of symptoms of dementia, movement disorders, and other neurological problems:

• Lead

• Cadmium

• Mercury

• Arsenic

• Nickel

• Aluminum

• Bismuth

Lead, mercury, and cadmium can cause negative health outcomes even at very low levels of exposure. We should avoid these heavy metals, but despite the fact that this common knowledge in the scientific community, dentists in the United States still regularly give patients mercury amalgam dental fillings that are constantly gassing off inside the mouth to produce damage to other teeth and to the jaw as well as damage to the nervous system. Indeed, a number of vaccines still contain mercury. Even in very tiny doses, mercury is damaging to the nervous system and it makes the brain and nervous system more vulnerable to other heavy metal exposures by damaging the blood-brain barrier. Excessive lead accumulation in the blood and brain during childhood can cause epigenetic alterations that may lead, at some point, to the development of dementia or other neurological disorders. 

Manganese is an essential trace mineral that the body needs in order to be able to use the essential mineral, iodine, but high levels of exposure to manganese can be toxic to the human body. Over-exposure to manganese in the environment can lead to impairments in neurological function over the course of time.

But now let’s talk about iron, a mineral that many people unwittingly supplement with as a “healthy” mineral. Iron is extremely important in the body. We absolutely need it. It’s used to build healthy red blood cells, among other things. Without adequate iron, our cells don’t receive oxygen. But unfortunately, we’ve been taught that iron supplementation is good and beneficial when, in fact, supplementation with iron is often damaging. Because iron is so important, the body recycles it. As such, for the vast majority of people supplementation with iron is totally unnecessary and damaging. Most pathogens that cause infection in the body are mostly interested in our iron such that the body sequesters iron during infection in order to protect it. In the human body, iron is like gold. We need it to oxygenate our cells, but pathogens also want our iron. Supplementing with iron makes iron readily available for pathogens to feed on. For many pathogens, iron increases their virulence. 

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So what are you supposed to do if you develop anemia (low red blood cell count), for example, and you need to build more blood? Anemia often happens during infection as pathogens steal the iron in our red blood cells. But iron supplementation is almost never the recommended response to anemia. Pathogens can become more virulent and establish a stronger hold inside the body with iron supplementation. And excess iron can be deposited in the brain where it can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological problems. Indeed, studies have shown that iron and aluminum together are implicated in the development of amyloid fibrils. Aluminum is a non-essential heavy metal that is present in some drinking water and it can cause short-term memory loss and cerebral impairment. In combination with iron, particularly excess iron, aluminum can be especially damaging.

In a patient with anemia, copper is a nutrient that can be given to promote healthy blood building, but even copper can be neurotoxic at the wrong levels. A small amount of copper is important for cell enzyme function and the control of biochemical reactions, but too much can lead to the production of free radicals that damage the brain and nervous system. We recommend that patients supplement with either 2 tablespoons of red wine 3 to 4 times per day or shilajit to get the necessary minerals without over–exposing the body to minerals in quantities that might otherwise be toxic.

Lead and aluminum play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis through their neurotoxicity. Other heavy metals like mercury, silver, iron, nickel, or bismuth may also cause a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier as a protective firewall that normally acts to protect the brain from various assaults. As heavy metals build up in brain tissues, altering the function of the blood-brain barrier, they build up in astrocytes and oligodendroglia which can lead, ultimately to demyelination of nervous system tissues.

Research has shown that nickel exposure can produce a heightened risk of Alzheimer’s complications with an increase in amyloid beta-42 and amyloid beta-40.

Zinc is another trace mineral that can accumulate in brain tissues to disrupt normal function, yet in today’s world, we generally associate zinc with good immune system function. This is part of what makes the topic of heavy metals so complex. How do we really know how much of any given metal is enough or too much? Every person’s body has different needs. 

Essentially, the heavy metals are generally toxic and bad when they build up inside the body to produce negative health effects. Many of the “heavy metals” are also trace minerals that our bodies need in order to function properly. The line between heavy metals and trace minerals can be blurry because many of the heavy metals that damage the body are also trace minerals when they’re given at low doses to produce better functioning of the body.

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Trace Minerals and Electrolytes

Many people are more familiar with the word “electrolytes” because of the extensive marketing that’s been done on “electrolyte drinks”, but the word “electrolyte” is really just another word for “trace mineral”. If you’re not totally familiar with what trace minerals / electrolytes do in the body, be sure to read more on this topic at AlivenHealthy.com. We absolutely need trace minerals / electrolytes in order to be healthy and energetic.

The word “electrolyte” portrays trace minerals for the electrical nature that defines much of their activity in the body. But the designation, “trace mineral” also helps us remember that these are nutrients that should be administered in very tiny quantities. They act as cofactors in enzymes and they assist with DNA repair, the creation of hormones, and energy metabolism.

The idea of “heavy metals” can produce confusion around trace minerals / electrolytes because many of the heavy metals are also trace minerals. When I was doing research for this chapter, AI, at one point, gave me a result that, in one paragraph, said that trace minerals often “double” as heavy metals. Trace minerals were, in the first paragraph, portrayed as essential to human health in small quantities. In the second paragraph, AI said that these same minerals “have no known nutritional benefit”. These are contradictory statements and in the AI distillation of this material, these statements literally sat right next to each other. But I felt like the AI-result that I got as I searched for scientific studies on this material, really captured the confusion that exists in the general public on this topic.

A pregnant woman may go to her doctor with low energy levels and the doctor may unwittingly prescribe iron supplements to her if he or she is not up-to-date on cutting edge research on blood-building and the use of copper in very low doses as a less dangerous supplement. If that same woman (let’s say that she’s American), after giving birth, goes to the dentist because her teeth have deteriorated under the stressors of building another human being inside her body, the dentist will install mercury fillings into her cavities, literally just millimeters from the cranium where delicate and vulnerable brain tissues sit in a marinade of spinal fluids. All of these metals, including the nutritive, low-dose copper, are technically also “heavy metals” if they’re administered at the wrong dose or even at the wrong time.  

Nutritional supplements may, at times, be necessary, but nutritive minerals can be tricky in terms of dosing. 

Mitigating the Effects of Heavy Metals

Intravenous EDTA

Scientific studies have shown that heavy metal toxicity plays a major role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In patients with neurodegenerative diseases, toxic levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and aluminum are elevated. Treatment with intravenous EDTA lessens the toxic heavy metal burden and improves patient symptoms.

Intravenous EDTA is one of the most important treatments for severe heavy metal toxicity. It is a relevant tool that can produce striking results under certain conditions. At the same time though, patients who work with EDTA must also be mindful of the fact that our bodies need a diversity of trace minerals in very small quantities. EDTA is non-specific in terms of the minerals and metals that it removes from the body which means that, during treatment with EDTA, you need to be constantly restoring trace minerals to the body through the use of Himalayan sea salt, sea water supplements, and shilajit.

Chelating Amino Acids and Peptides

Certain amino acids and peptides act as powerful chelating agents in the body to remove heavy metals and also, in some cases, other toxic substances. Examples include:

• Glutathione

  • Glutathione is the body’s primary antioxidant that binds to heavy metals and other toxins to remove them from the body. It can pass the blood-brain barrier to clear toxins from the brain.

• Cysteine 

  • Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that binds to heavy metals to remove them safely from the body.

• Methionine

  • Methionine is another sulfur-containing amino acid that binds to heavy metals to remove them safely from the body.

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid / ALA

  • ALA is a naturally-occurring antioxidant that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to remove heavy metals.

Chelating Plants and Foods

• Garlic 

• Onions

• Cilantro (should always be administered with chlorella supplements)

• Brazil Nuts

• Green tea 

• Citric acid

Insecticides and Pesticides

Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s have both been linked to pesticide exposure from agriculture. Studies have also shown that multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may be, in some cases, caused by insecticides or pesticides, or at the very least worsened considerably by insecticide exposures. Anticholinesterases are among the most prolific pesticides that are known to impact cognitive function in humans. 

Studies have shown that the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / ALS has been especially correlated with organochlorine insecticides, pyrethroids, herbicides, and fumigants.

Pesticides and herbicides that have strong nervous system toxicity in humans include:

• Organophosphates

• Carbamates

• Organochlorines

• Rotenone

• Paraquat

• Phenyl pyrazole insecticides / Fipronil

• Hexachlorophene

• Triclocarbon

• Triclosan

• Paraben

• Linuron

• more…

These pesticides / herbicides produce neurotoxicity by interfering with cholinergic function. They phosphorylate active sites on acetylcholinesterase enzymes which brings acetylcholine breakdown to a halt. Too much acetylcholine, in turn, leads to neuron death and cognitive impairment. 

Organophosphate and organochlorine exposure can cause diabetes. Blood sugar and blood lipid levels can be impacted by alterations in the endocrine and exocrine systems. 

Rotenone is a fish toxin and a widely used pesticide that prevents proper mitochondria function. This pesticide causes severe oxidative stress on the body. Overexposure to this toxin can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, other forms of dementia, MS, and ALS by triggering neuroinflammation and demyelination of nerves. Rotenone also impairs neurite outgrowth, neuronal differentiation, and precursor cell migration. The higher the dose, the more damaging the effects..

Paraquat is one of the most commonly used herbicides at the time of this writing and exposure to it has been correlated with later development of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It is a demyelinating, neuron-killing herbicide that can also cause multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It causes damage by producing oxidative stress and by impairing mitochondrial function that leads to memory and cognitive issues.

Paraquat is used in lab studies to create a model of Parkinson’s disease in mice and other animals. In other words, Paraquat is so reliable at inducing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that scientists use it to create Parkinson’s disease in animals in order to study potential treatments for Parkinson’s.

Fipronil is a neurotoxic pesticide that’s used both in agriculture and by veterinarians. Fipronil has been found in chicken eggs that are meant for human consumption. As a phenol pyrazole that inhibits GABA receptors, it creates motor impairments and neurodegeneration that look almost identical to Alzheimer’s symptoms. Fipronil inhibits cell migration and neuron differentiation, but unlike rotenone, it does not inhibit neurite outgrowth.

The herbicide, linuron, is used to control grass and weeds, but it has also been implicated as a substance that can cause neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis. It has been banned in Europe, but it is still in use in the United States and other countries.

Mitigating the Effects of Insecticides and Pesticides

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a deep red carotenoid. It is a powerful antioxidant that is also neuroprotective. It acts as an antioxidant that prevents neurons from dying. It has been used to prevent and treat fipronil-induced brain damage by preventing oxidative stress and inflammation. Fipronil can destroy tissue architecture in the cerebrum or cerebellum, but astaxanthin acts to preserve the histo-architecture.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine / NAC

NAC is a powerful, detoxifying antioxidant that has been shown, in scientific studies, to have inhibitory effects on fipronil.

Antimicrobials and Antibiotics

Excessive use of certain antimicrobial agents and disinfectants have been associated with health issues including the development of neurodegenerative diseases. 

Hexachlorophene is a disinfectant that decreases succinate dehydrogenase activity, altering the metabolism of the brain to produce vacuolar encephalopathy that looks identical to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Triclocarbon and triclosan are antimicrobial agents used in skincare, toothpastes, and other personal hygiene products. They alter calcium homeostasis that develops into neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders. People can be impacted negatively by products used by their mother before they were born according to some studies.

Parabens are toxins that are used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals because of their antibacterial and antifungal activities, but bioaccumulation of parabens in the brain can lead to a decrease in neurotransmitter activity and behavioral changes as a result. Like triclocarban and triclosan, studies have shown that paraben exposure can even impact a fetus before it is born, producing behavioral changes and learning disorders that take shape much later in life.

Mitigating the Effects of Antimicrobials and Antibiotics

In order to combat antimicrobials and antibiotics, you have to detoxify your life and seek out safe and healthy personal care products, cosmetics, and cleaning products. The EWG cosmetics database can be a useful tool to get started.

If you have been on a number of antibiotics in your life, you’ll need to develop a relationship with reactive oxygen species medicines and herbal remedies for infection. Antibiotics can destroy gut health, which in turn, can have a negative impact on cognition.

Air Pollutants

The main source of air pollution today comes from industry, cars, power plants, and the excessive consumption of fossil fuels. Certain types of air pollutants, gases, and particular matter in the air can lead to the development of free radicals in the human body. These free radicals, in turn, may spur the development of neuroinflammation and amyloid deposits which lead to neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also examined the relationship between toxic air pollution and multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The following air pollutants have been studied in terms of their impact on neurodegenerative diseases:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

• Heavy metals (HM)

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• Particulate matter (PM)

• Gases

Air pollutants are a major cause of chronic diseases. Respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease are caused by or worsened by air pollution. Multiple sclerosis may also develop as a result of air pollution or symptoms may be worsened by air pollution. Studies have also shown that long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution increases vulnerability to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 

When the air becomes contaminated with organic compounds, gases, particulate matter, and heavy metals, this puts stress on the human nervous system. Over the course of time, air pollution can cause neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. 

Mitigating the Effects of Air Pollutants

For those with neurodegenerative diseases, if possible, it might be worth it to move to an area of the world with less pollution in order to avoid exacerbating symptoms. If relocation is not a possibility, however, consider investing in a high-quality hepa air purifier instead to reduce exposure.

Industrial and Commercial Chemicals

There are a number of industrial and commercial chemicals that can contribute to the development of dementia. These include:

• Dioxins

• Dioxin-like chemicals

• Phthalates

• Bisphenol-A (BPA) 

Aryl hydrocarbon receptors can be disrupted by dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals which can, in turn, lead to neurological dysfunction including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, multiple sclerosis, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Phthalates and bisphenol-A / BPA are used in plastic products and plasticizers in the food and beverage industry. These chemicals can exude from containers into foods and beverages to create epigenetic changes and other health problems. Exposure to BPA in animal models of disease can lead to reproductive organ dysfunction and changes in animal behaviors. Further BPA exposure can interfere with the formation of synapses in the spine, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. 

Exposure to phthalates before birth can lead to memory dysfunction in a fetus later in life. In other words, pregnant mothers should avoid phthalates as these can lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases later on in a child’s life. 

BPA can interfere with insulin signaling in the brain. Restoring proper insulin signaling in the brain is critical to restoring normal neurological function in Alzheimer’s patients, for example. The fact that BPA can interfere with insulin signaling suggests that avoiding these toxins might help restore insulin signaling to relieve symptoms of neurodegeneration in different types of dementia and movement disorders.

Mitigating the Effects of Industrial and Commercial Chemicals

In order to avoid phthalates, BPA, and dioxins, you will have to become knowledgeable about these toxins. Reading the ingredient labels on personal care products, cosmetics, and cleaning products is absolutely necessary. Detoxify your life by learning more about chemicals that disrupt the body’s metabolism and neurological health.

Medications That Cause Dementia

It is a well-known fact that certain drugs and medications cause cognitive decline and dementia, yet this problem is under-recognized and even obscured. The body of research on this topic is massive and it includes the following drug categories:

• Antiseizure medications

• Antidepressants

• Antiparkinson’s disease drugs

• Antipsychotics

• Lithium

• Benzodiazepines / Z-drugs

• Opioids

• First-generation antihistamines

• Drugs for urinary incontinence

• Proton pump inhibitors

• Glucocorticoids

• NSAIDs

• Statins

• Antihypertensive drugs

• Chemotherapy drugs

• More

Many drugs in different pharmaceutical categories produce varying degrees of cognitive impairment in all age groups. As we discuss throughout this book, dementia symptoms are similar to the symptoms associated with other mental illnesses, but for the most part, dementia is only diagnosed in patients above a certain age (at the time of this writing age 45 is a cut-off point). A diagnosis of dementia is often “terminal” and may point a patient toward long-term care as opposed to looking for solutions to the problem and ways to overcome the dementia symptoms. Loved ones may give up in trying to find solutions to the problem of dementia in some cases.

But mild forms of cognitive impairment or dementia can and do occur in younger patients too. Medications are a common cause of cognitive impairment and unfortunately, many clinical trials fail to test the safety of a given drug in terms of its effects on thinking and memory. When cognitive effects are studied, the methods used to study this issue are often inadequate to get productive results. As rates of dementia continue to increase, more research on this issue will certainly be funded, but dementia patients today should look closely at drugs that they’re currently taking and drugs they’ve taken in the past and take action to stop taking some of those drugs and seek out treatment to heal the brain and body after toxic drug exposures that lead to cognitive impairments.

Often, it isn’t really possible for dementia patients to begin healing until they’ve successfully stopped taking prescription (and sometimes over-the-counter) drugs. The first step toward reversing dementia symptoms begins with getting the patient off of synthetic drugs and onto natural alternatives that are less damaging and ideally also healing for the brain and body.

There are a large number of medications that have predictable potential to cause brain toxicity in aging patients. This potential may or may not be clearly stated on the product labels. Unfortunately, drugs that are used in patients of all ages are more likely to have been studied in regard to cognitive toxicity.

Sometimes drug combinations are an underlying problem that’s causing dementia symptoms. In other words, it may not be a specific drug that’s causing symptoms of cognitive impairment, but rather the combination of two or more drugs together that are problematic. For example, ketoconazole, an antifungal drug can inhibit the breakdown of other drugs which, in turn, can lead to dementia symptoms as the other drug is not properly metabolized and removed from the body.

For the most part, herbs and supplements as well as medications need to be used intelligently and with plenty of research if they are being administered together on the same day to avoid side effects from negative combinations.

Note that some drugs are listed under more than one category.

Below are drugs that have been studied in terms of their negative effects on cognition. Be aware that new drugs are always being created so the list below is not exhaustive. Always look closely at all of a drug’s side effects which are often partially hidden. Seek out the full list of side effects and adverse effects for a drug that you intend to take or that you or a loved one is already taking even if it is not on the list below:

• Antibiotics

• Some antibiotics cause cognitive disturbances, especially at high doses or in cases involving kidney insufficiency. 

• Severely ill patients may develop an increased blood-brain permeability that causes them to respond poorly to antibiotics.

• Quinolones such as ciprofloxacin can cause anxiety or agitation while imipenem can cause confusion and convulsions.

• Penicillins

• Cephalosporins

• Quinolones

• Imipenem / Cilistatin 

• These two drugs (imipenem and cilastatin) are given together which increases their kidney toxicity.

• Anticholinergic Drugs 

• For the most part, all synthetic drugs in this class produce cognitive impairments. Studies have shown that patients who are taking anticholinergics have a 51% risk of later developing cognitive impairments. The longer the drug-treatment, the bigger the risk.

• Amitryptyline

• Atropine

• Benztropine

• Chlorpromazine

• Chlorprothixene

• Clomipramine

• Clozapine

• Cyclobenzaprine

• Diphenhydramine

• Doxepin

• Imipramine

• Oxybutynin

• Protriptyline

• Scopolamine 

  • Scopolamine is used to produce dementia symptoms in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.

• Thiothixene

• Trihexylphenidyl

• Trimipramine

• Antidepressants

• Citalopram

• Clomipramine

• Escitalopram

• Fluoxetine

• Paroxetine

• Sertraline

• Selegiline

  • Delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and overall sedation can occur with Selegiline therapy.

• Tricyclic Antidepressants

• Amitriptyline (Elavil)

• Doxepin (Silenor)

• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

• Antifungal Drugs

• Ketoconazole (inhibits CYP3 A4 to cause drug interactions that can lead to dementia symptoms)

• Antihistamines (first-generation, sleep aids)

• Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-tab, Aller-Chlor, Coricidin HBP)

• Cyproheptadine

• Diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl, Advil PM, Tylenol PM)

• Doxylamine (Unisom)

• Hydroxyzine

• Promethazine

• Antiparkinsonian Drugs

• Dopamine agonists

• Pramipexole

• Ropinirole

• Amantadine MAO

• Some patients without any previous psychiatric issues experience suicidal thoughts as a result of taking Amantadine.

• Patients who are taking Amantadine may experience a number of abnormal mental states including depression, paranoia, confusion, personality changes, and aggressive behaviors.

• Mantadine MAOIs

• Rasagiline

• Selegiline

• Levodopa / L-Dopa 

• Note that natural levodopa exists in the brain and in certain beans such as fava beans or Mucuna pruriens / velvet beans. Natural levodopa is chemically dissimilar from synthetic levodopa, the drug prescribed by doctors.

• Antipsychotics

• Typical antipsychotics

• Flupentixol

• Fluphenazin

• Haloperidol

• Zuclopenthixol

• Atypical antipsychotics

• Aripiprazole

• Clozapine

• Olanzapine

• Paliperidone

• Quetiapine

• Risperidone

• Antiseizure drugs

• Note that epilepsy and seizures are, themselves, correlated with the later development of cognitive impairments.

• Carbamazepine

• Clonazepam

• Ethosuximide

• Phenobarbital

• Phenytoin 

  • Confusion, speech, and movement difficulties are common with phenytoin.

• Primidone

• Sulthiame

• Topiramate

• Valproate

• Zonisamide

• Antiviral Drugs

• Amantadine

• Amantadine may cause suicidal thoughts or attempts in those who have no previous psychiatric issues.

• Amantadine can cause confusion, depression, paranoia, aggressive behaviors, and personality changes.

• Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs

• Benzodiazepines (benzos) have been correlated with dementia in older patients. Not all research supports this correlation though. Ideally, patients should take the lowest possible dose of benzodiazepines.

• Older patients achieve higher plasma levels of benzodiazepines with chronic use. The level of sedation and cognitive impairment tends to be higher than in younger patients taking these drugs.

• Benzodiazepine withdrawal is associated with delirium.

• Some doctors try to substitute anticholinergic drugs for benzodiazepines, but this can actually enhance the risk of developing dementia.

• Alprazolam (Xanax, Niravam)

• Clonazepam (Klonopin)

• Diazepam (Valium)

• Lorazepam (Ativan)

• Zolpidem

• Zopiclone

• Bisphosphonates (for osteoporosis)

• Bisphosphonates are organophosphates that have been repurposed into osteoporosis drugs.

• Alendronate (Fosamax or Binosto)

• Risederonate (Actonel or Atelvia)

• Ibandronate (Boniva)

• Zoledronic Acid (Reclast)

• Cardiac Glycosides

• Digoxin

• This is a drug that is commonly prescribed to elderly patients.

• Central nervous system effects include depression, anxiety, confusion, delirium, and hallucinations. These symptoms may appear even without cardiac toxicity.

• Kidney clearance of digoxin plays a role in clearance of the drug. Kidney function generally declines with age.

• Chemotherapy Drugs

• 5-fluorouracil

• Cisplatin

• Cyclophosphamide

• Doxorubicin

• Gemcitabine

• Interferon

• Mercaptopurine

• Methotrexate

• Paclitaxel

• Corticosteroids for Allergies, Asthma, Autoimmune Conditions, and Systemic Inflammation

• At high doses, corticosteroids can cause psychosis. In older patients, this can be misdiagnosed as dementia. With chronic therapy, memory and attention issues occur.

• Clobetasol Propionate

• Fluticasone

• Hydrocortisone (topical cream)

• Methylpredinsone

• Prednisone

• Triamcinolone (Kenalog)

• Glaucoma Drugs

• Timolol

• Timolol can produce memory problems, depression, and dementia symptoms as a result of its effects on blood pressure.

• Glucocorticoids

• Betamethasone

• Dexamethasone

• Prednisone

• Prednisolone

• Triamcinolone

• High Blood Pressure Drugs and Drugs that Impact Blood Pressure as a Side Effect (including Beta-Blockers)

• Blood pressure drugs may produce symptoms like depression, memory problems or pseudodementia.

• ACE inhibitors

• Antipsychotics

• AT2 antagonists

• Benzodiazepines

• Beta-blockers

• Calcium blockers

• Diuretics

• Dopaminergic antiparkinsonian drugs

• Nitrates

• Opioids (see below)

• Propranolol

• SGLT-2 inhibitors

• Tricyclic antidepressants

• Timolol

• Immunochemotherapy

• Both of the drugs listed below have been correlated with the development of severe depression.

• Interferon-alpha

• Interleukin-2

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome / IBS Medications

• Dicyclomine (Bentyl)

• Hyoscyamine (Levsin)

• Lithium Drugs

• Lithium carbonate

• Lithium citrate

• Lithium sulfate

• Lithium orotate (only at very high doses)

• NaSSAs

• Bupropion

• Duloxetine

• Mianserin

• Mirtazapine

• Venlafaxine

• NSAIDs

• Celecoxib

• Diclofenac

• Ibuprophen (Motrin, Advil)

• Indomethacin (Indocin)

• Ketorolac

• Meloxicam

• Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

• Numbing Agents

• Lidocaine

• Lidocaine can cause confusion or delirium as a result of toxicity.

• Opiates

• Heavy, long-term use of synthetic opioid drugs are correlated with a higher risk of developing dementia. Studies indicate that older patients with chronic, untreated pain are also at a higher risk of developing dementia. This is tricky material, but one recommended course of action is to seek out natural alternatives for pain release such as Mitragyna speciosa to replace synthetic drugs that have a correlation with later development of dementia symptoms.

• Symptoms range from sedation or depression to delirium.

• All synthetic opiate drugs have anticholinergic effects which can lead to delirium.

• Buprenorphine

• Codeine

  • Long-term codeine use has been associated with the development of depression symptoms.

• Fentanyl (Duragesic)

• Hydrocodone (Norco)

• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

• Meperidine

  • This drug also has anticholinergic effects. For this reason, doctors believe that it is one of the most common opiates to produce dementia symptoms.

• Morphine

• Oxycodone

• Tramadol

• Proton Pump Inhibitors / PPIs

• PPIs have been shown to cause beta-amyloid plaque buildup in the brains of mice. Beta-amyloid plaques in humans are positively correlated with Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

• Long-term use of PPIs can make it hard for the body to absorb vitamin B12 which can lead to dementia symptoms. 

• Esomeprazole (Nexium)

• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)

• Omeprazole (Prilosec)

• Pantoprazole (Protonix)

• Statins

• Atorvastatin

• Pravastatin

• Rosuvastatin

• Simvastatin

• Urinary Incontinence / Overactive Bladder Drugs

• Elsewhere we’ve discussed the fact that bladder irritation or urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause dementia symptoms. These symptoms remit when the bladder irritation or infection is properly treated, but in order to properly treat the bladder issue, it’s important to find out the underlying cause.

• Darfenacine ER (Enablex)

• Fesoterodine (Toviaz)

• Oxybutynine (Ditropan)

• Solifenacin (Vesicare)

• Tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA)

• Trospium (Santura)

Mitigating the Effects of Pharmaceuticals

There are natural alternatives for the vast majority of drugs on the market today if you’re willing to do the research to find them. At https://database.alivenhealthy.com/, we provide a curated and searchable database to help people get started in finding alternative treatments and cures for diseases that seem to be incurable.

Resources

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Reimers, A. et al. (2024). Drug-Induced Cognitive Impairment. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11903592/ 

Rowe, N. (2025). A List of Drugs Linked to Dementia. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/dementia/these-drugs-could-increase-your-risk-of-dementia?srsltid=AfmBOornr_YyDuj250_HfF79y1Fup58aMU-hAxLTYgBjJKVUzj6kDDE3 

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Von Moltke, L. L. et al. (2001). Cognitive toxicity of drugs used in the elderly. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3181655/ 

Pamphlett, R. et al. (2023). Potentially toxic elements in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9837144/ 

Exley, C. et al. (2006). Elevated urinary excretion of aluminum and iron in multiple sclerosis. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17086897/ 

Fulgenzi, A. et al. (2020). EDTA Chelation Therapy in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Update. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7460255/ 

Vitturi, B. K. et al. (2023). Occupational risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10694508/ 

Peters, S. et al. (2020). Blood Metal Levels and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk: A Prospective Cohort. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7756568/ 

Van Laar, A. D. et al. (2023). Transient exposure to rotenone causes degeneration and progressive parkinsonian motor deficits, neuroinflammation, and synucleinopathy. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-023-00561-6 

Liu, J. et al. (2025). CXCR2 mediates rotenone-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration through neutrophil infiltration and extracellular traps formation in mice. Retrieved June 15, 2026 from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813025088622 

Silva, R. et al. (2024). The Link Between Paraquat and Demyelination: A Review of Current Evidence. Retrieved June 15, 2026 from  ​https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11590890/ 

Hafez, M. H. et al. (2025). Astaxanthin alleviates fipronil-induced neuronal damages in male rats through modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers. Retrieved June 15, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12022106/ 

Schmitz, A. et al. (2021). Developmental Neurotoxicity of Fipronil and Rotenone on a Human Neuronal In Vitro Test System. Retrieved June 15, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8275550/ 

Melao, A. (2019). Herbicide Called Linuron Seen to Trigger Inflammatory Signals Linked to MS in Study. Retrieved June 15, 2026 from https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2019/01/21/linuron-herbicide-may-boost-immune-system-inflammatory-signals-linked-to-ms/ 

Godinho, A. F. et al. (2016). Memory impairment due to fipronil pesticide exposure occurs at the GABAA receptor level, in rats. Retrieved June 15, 2026 https://repositorio.unesp.br/server/api/core/bitstreams/935cc611-f2d4-48b5-9244-2bc9b464629f/content 

Kame, F. et al. (2012). Pesticide Exposure and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Retrieved June 15, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3358481/ 

Mohammadi, M. J. et al. (2022). Toxic Air Pollutants and Their Effect on Multiple Sclerosis: A Review Study. Retrieved June 16, 2026 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9299435/ 

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