MHRA report finds insufficient data on bladder anticholinergics dementia risk
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded that current evidence is insufficient to confirm a direct link between bladder anticholinergic medicines and dementia. However, they advise healthcare professionals to prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration as a precautionary measure.
Why it matters
This guidance helps clinicians balance the management of bladder conditions in older patients while mitigating potential, albeit unconfirmed, long-term cognitive risks.
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A report has not found sufficient evidence to say that bladder anticholinergic medicines increase the risk of dementia; however, a small increased risk cannot be ruled out, it said.
In a public assessment report — entitled ‘ Bladder anticholinergics: review of risk of dementia ‘ — published on 27 July 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said: “The overall findings of the review are that the available evidence is not sufficient to confirm that use of bladder anticholinergic medicines directly increases the risk of developing dementia; however, the limitations of these studies mean that a small increased risk cannot be ruled out completely.”
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