Older adults who take five or more prescription medications face a significantly higher risk of death than those taking fewer drugs, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The research focuses on polypharmacy, the medical term for taking five or more daily prescriptions, and raises concern about its long term effects in aging populations.

Led by Dr. Alexander Chaitoff of the University of Michigan School of Medicine, researchers analyzed national survey data collected from 7,828 adults aged 65 and older between 1999 and 2016.

Trained staff directly inspected participants' pill bottles to verify medication use over the previous 30 days. Participants were then followed for an average of 8.5 years, according to a press release.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

More than half of participants, 54.3%, fell into at least one medication category considered concerning in the study. The largest group consisted of older adults taking five or more prescription drugs.

Over 40% of the older adults studied were taking five or more prescription medications. Another 37.6% used medications deemed risky for older individuals, including drugs that can increase the risk of confusion or falls, the study found.

Additionally, 11.4% took combinations of medications known to cause major interactions between drugs. The findings pointed to medication count as a major independent marker in the researchers' mortality analysis.

"People taking more medications often have more underlying health conditions, which may also contribute to their higher mortality risk," Katy Dubinsky, a pharmacist in New York and founder of PostGigs who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

After researchers accounted for overall health and underlying conditions, taking five or more prescriptions was associated with a 38% increase in overall mortality risk. Each additional prescription medication added to a patient’s routine was linked to a 7% increase in death risk.

Taking multiple medications has been shown to increase the likelihood of side effects, adverse drug reactions and accidental overdose, according to medical experts at Cleveland Clinic. That concern is especially relevant as the liver and kidneys age and process drugs less efficiently, the experts said.

Researchers emphasized that the findings can help doctors identify patients who may benefit from safely reducing or stopping unnecessary medications. However, the study did not prove that the prescriptions directly caused the higher death risk.

The total number of medications participants took was the strongest independent predictor of mortality. That remained true even after researchers accounted for interactions between drugs and potentially inappropriate prescriptions.

These findings could help doctors determine which patients are the best candidates for "deprescribing," or carefully reducing or stopping unnecessary medications, the researchers stated.

The authors noted several limitations in the research. The study focused strictly on older adults living in the community and excluded those in nursing homes or assisted care facilities.

Additionally, medication use was documented during a single 30 day snapshot at the start of the study. Therefore, researchers could not track later prescription changes or evolving health conditions over time.

Because the study relied on that single 30 day snapshot, it showed an association rather than direct proof that prescriptions caused the higher death risk.

Experts emphasized that observational studies show association rather than direct causation. "I would not recommend that anyone stop a medication because of this study," said Dubinsky.

Instead, Dubinsky said people taking multiple medications should periodically review everything they take with their physician or pharmacist, including prescriptions, nonprescription medications, vitamins and supplements.

"Ask why each medication is being taken, whether it is still needed and whether the dose remains appropriate," Dubinsky advised.