Chronic Anticholinergic Use and Dementia Risk

A longitudinal study in community-dwelling elders suggests that chronic anticholinergic use may not only produce short-term cognitive effects but may also increase the risk for dementia.

Does chronic anticholinergic use, long recognized as causing cognitive impairment in older people, increase the long-term risk for dementia, particularly Alzheimer disease (AD)? And do patients who have discontinued anticholinergic medications have the same risk for dementia as chronic users?

To find out, researchers conducted an observational study in community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older. The study was partially funded by a manufacturer of anticholinergic drugs. Of the original 9077 dementia-free participants at study inception, data were available on 6912. Participants had follow-up examinations at 2 years and most also at 4 years (mean follow-up duration, 3.5 years). Cognitive measures included a word list generation task, Trail Ma…

Reviewing Author

David L. Bachman, MD

Chronic Anticholinergic Use and Dementia Risk

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Reviewing Author