Journal article
Effects of anticholinergic drugs on cognitive function in older Australians: Results from the AIBL study
G Sittironnarit, D Ames, AI Bush, N Faux, L Flicker, J Foster, S Hilmer, NT Lautenschlager, P Maruff, CL Masters, RN Martins, C Rowe, C Szoeke, KA Ellis
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders | Published : 2011
DOI: 10.1159/000325171
Abstract
Background/Aims: The nature and extent of adverse cognitive effects due to the prescription of anticholinergic drugs in older people with and without dementia is unclear. Methods: We calculated the anticholinergic load (ACL) of medications taken by participants of the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of ageing, a cohort of 211 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 133 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients and 768 healthy controls (HC) all aged over 60 years. The association between ACL and cognitive function was examined for each diagnostic group (HC, MCI, AD). Results: A high ACL within the HC group was associated with significantly slower response speeds for the St..
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