Researchers at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, examined the potential link between regular laxative use and cognitive health. Their findings suggest a notable association: individuals who frequently used laxatives appeared to have a higher incidence of dementia than those who did not, a relationship quantified as a more than 50% increase in risk under the study’s conditions. The results were reported in a publication associated with the journal Science and Neurology, highlighting the importance of examining gut health and brain health together, especially in aging populations.
The study drew on a vast dataset, analyzing health information from about 502,000 adults. Among these, more than 18,000 were identified as frequent laxative users. Over a follow-up window of roughly ten years, dementia developed in 218 people who used laxatives regularly (about 1.3%), compared with 1,969 nonusers (approximately 0.4%). While these numbers indicate a statistical association, they do not establish a direct cause-and-effect link, and researchers emphasize that many factors can influence dementia risk, including genetics, lifestyle, comorbid conditions, and medications. The scale of the cohort and the length of the follow-up provide a robust signal that warrants careful interpretation and further study to understand potential mechanisms behind the observed relationship.
Scientists point out that constipation becomes more common with advancing age, often prompting the use of laxatives. Yet, the interplay between the gut ecosystem and brain function may be more intricate than it seems. Laxatives can disrupt the gut microbiome and alter the production of certain metabolites and toxins in the intestinal environment. These changes might influence inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neuronal signaling, all of which can contribute to brain health in ways that are not yet fully understood. The researchers stress that the gut-brain axis is a dynamic system, where long-term alterations in gut flora could conceivably impact cognitive processes over time, particularly in susceptible individuals.
Looking ahead, the investigators plan additional analyses to replicate these observations in other populations and to dissect the possible biological routes linking laxative exposure to dementia risk. They aim to refine the understanding of how various laxative types, dosing patterns, and duration of use might interact with individual risk profiles. The ongoing work will also consider alternate explanations, such as whether underlying conditions associated with constipation or the reasons for laxative prescription could themselves contribute to dementia risk. By pursuing deeper mechanistic studies and broader epidemiological validation, the research community hopes to offer clearer guidance for clinicians and patients regarding laxative use, aging, and brain health, while avoiding unwarranted conclusions about causality from observational data alone.