A study published in Neurology revealed that using over-the-counter laxatives regularly has been linked to a significantly higher risk of dementia, especially in individuals who use different types of laxatives kinds or osmotic laxatives.

Participants aged from 40 to 69 years who were dementia-free were included in the study. At baseline, there were 502,229 individuals, with a mean age of 56.5 years, with 273,251 (54.4%) being females and 18,235 (3.6%) using laxatives daily. Dementia of any etiology was seen in 218 (1.3%) participants who used laxatives on daily basis and 1,969 (0.4%) participants, who did not.

Regular use of laxatives was linked to an increased risk of vascular dementia and all-cause dementia after controlling for variables like age, sex, education, other medical conditions, medication use, and family history of dementia.

With more laxative varieties being used, the risk of dementia also increased. When compared to not taking laxatives, the risk of dementia from all causes increased by 90% for those who used two or more varieties and by 28% for those who used just one type. Only those who used osmotic laxatives had a statistically significant greater risk of 64% all-cause dementia and an increased risk of vascular dementia among those who said they only used one type of laxative.

Researchers concluded that regular use of laxatives is linked to a higher risk of dementia, so it is essential to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of laxatives with their doctor and other options for relieving constipation, like increasing dietary fiber and drinking more water. 

(Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/988727)