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Long-Term Cognitive Impact of Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults

From the Graduate Center for Gerontology (KAB), Department of Statistics (JCS, LY), Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (AMC-H, MSM, FAS), Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Science and Neurology (MR), Department of Biostatistics (MSM), and Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences (FAS), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; and Universidad Nacional de Colombia at Medellin, Medellin, Colombia (JCS).

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether chronic use of medications with anticholinergic (AC) properties impact older adults' cognitive functioning.

Methods: Six years of cognitive test data from two groups of older adults (AC and control) were examined retrospectively (N = 592).

Results: Declines over time were found for the AC group on parts A and B of the Trail Making Test.

Conclusion: Physicians prescribing ACs to older adult patients should be aware of their potential effects on psychomotor speed and executive functioning. These cognitive effects may lead to impairments in daily functioning resulting in the need to reevaluate patient medications.

Key Words: Anticholinergic • normal aging • cognition • older adults

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