With the high number of medications taken by this population, anticholinergic burden can increase, affecting cognition and behavior.
The anticholinergic properties of some medications can adversely affect cognition. These researchers examined the anticholinergic drug burden, functional and global cognitive performance, and behavioral disturbance of 473 elderly patients (mean age, 81) seen at a memory clinic.
Anticholinergic burden was estimated with five different scales that were variously based on human serum or in vitro animal serum anticholinergic activity, literature reviews of anticholinergic drug activity, and expert opinion. Clinical outcomes were determined via standardized measures. Patients had mild or major neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) or subjective cognitive decline.
Compared to patients with mild NCD or subjective cognitive decline, patients with major NCD…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)