You might not think of your medicine cabinet as the culprit when it comes to accelerated aging, but anything that jeopardizes your microbiome also jeopardizes your ability to age well, and at the top of the list of microbial disruptors are antibiotics. Antibiotics are arguable one of the most important scientific discoveries of the last century, but they also wreak havoc on your gut bacteria, and that can profoundly affect the aging – and developing – brain.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience assessed the effects of long-term (2 months or longer) or recurrent (3 or more courses per year) antibiotic exposure in childhood and the risk of cognitive impairment later in life. Assessments included memory, attention, and executive function. Researchers analyzed 36,000 participants and found that those who received long-term and/or recurrent antibiotic treatment in childhood were almost 20% more likely to develop cognitive impairment in middle or older age. Even after adjusting for factors like age, sex, income, smoking, alcohol, BMI, and cardiometabolic health, the link between antibiotic exposure and cognitive impairment remained.
Antibiotics have transformed our modern world and saved countless lives, but there are real risks associated with their use that you should be aware of. Based on this study and others of its kind, we know that antibiotics put young and middle-aged people at a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia later in life (a risk that may already be increased in some based on non-modifiable genetic factors like APOE4). By the year 2030, it’s estimated that 66 million people will suffer from dementia – more than double the amount in 2015. Antibiotics can sometimes be necessary, but more often the decision about whether to prescribe one is a gray zone. If you have children, here are some Gutbliss resources that can help protect them from antibiotic associated risks:
