Regular laxative use linked to increased dementia risk

The study also found that people who used multiple laxatives, or only osmotic laxatives, a type of laxative that attracts water to the colon to soften stool, had an even greater risk.

Other types of laxatives are bulk-forming, stool-softening, and stimulating.

The findings do not prove that laxatives cause dementia, but do suggest an association, the researchers say.

However, the scientists say that if their findings are confirmed through further studies, doctors could encourage people to treat constipation by making lifestyle changes such as drinking more water, eating more fibre and adding more activity into their daily lives.

Study author Feng Sha, of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangdong, China, said: “Constipation and laxative use are common among middle-aged and older adults. However, regular laxative use may change the microbiome of the gut, possibly affecting nerve signalling from the gut to the brain or increasing the production of intestinal toxins that may affect the brain.

“Our research found regular use of over-the-counter laxatives was associated with a higher risk of dementia, particularly in people who used multiple laxative types or osmotic laxatives.”

Researchers also found that while osmotic and stimulant laxatives are both not recommended for regular use, there were many regular users of the medications in this study.

The study involved 502,229 people in the UK biobank – a database of genetic and health information from 500,000 participants nationwide.