Effect of anticholinergic drugs on cognitive impairment in the elderly

Abstract The use of anticholinergic drugs is common in the elderly, even in people with cognitive impairment. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed (anticholinergic effects, anticholinergic and dementia) to define the effects of anticholinergic drugs in the elderly. We emphasised the search in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental (English ed.) 2015-01, Vol.8 (1), p.35-43
Main Authors: López-Álvarez, Jorge, Zea Sevilla, María Ascensión, Agüera Ortiz, Luis, Fernández Blázquez, Miguel Ángel, Valentí Soler, Meritxell, Martínez-Martín, Pablo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actividad anticolinérgica en suero
Alzheimer's disease
Anticholinergic drugs
Demencia
Dementia
Deterioro cognitivo leve
Enfermedad de Alzheimer
Fármacos anticolinérgicos
Internal Medicine
Mild cognitive impairment
Psychiatric/Mental Health
Serum anticholinergic activity
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Summary:Abstract The use of anticholinergic drugs is common in the elderly, even in people with cognitive impairment. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed (anticholinergic effects, anticholinergic and dementia) to define the effects of anticholinergic drugs in the elderly. We emphasised the search in patterns of use, the combined use with AChEIs, the measurement of the Serum Anticholinergic Activity, and the short-term and long-term cognitive effects. The conclusions are that the use of anticholinergic drugs is common in the elderly, even more so than the medical prescription of AChEIs in Alzheimer's disease. The use of anticholinergic drugs may result in cognitive impairment. In long-term use it may generate a worsening of cognitive functions. It can lead to a wrong diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, and they can also initiate signs of dementia. Greater cognitive effects appear when there is a previous deficit, but cognitive effects from anticholinergic drugs disappear in severe dementia. The presence of ApoE-ɛ4 increases the vulnerability for cognitive impairment when these drugs are employed.
ISSN:2173-5050
2173-5050
DOI:10.1016/j.rpsmen.2015.03.001