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The impact of anticholinergic burden in Alzheimer's Dementia-the Laser-AD study

Fox, Chris, Livingston, Gill, Maidment, Ian D., Coulton, Simon, Smithard, D.G., Boustani, Malaz, Katona, Cornelius (2011) The impact of anticholinergic burden in Alzheimer's Dementia-the Laser-AD study. Age and Ageing, 40 (6). pp. 730-735. ISSN 0002-0729. E-ISSN 1468-2834. (doi:10.1093/ageing/afr102) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:42679)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afr102

Abstract

Methods: cognitive function was measured at baseline and at 6- and 18-month follow-up using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Battery, Cognitive subsection (ADAS-COG) in a cohort study of 224 participants with AD. Baseline anticholinergic Burden score (ABS) was measured using the Anticholinergic Burden scale and included all prescribed and over the counter medication.

Results: the sample was 224 patients with Alzheimer's dementia and 71.4% were women. Their mean age was 81.0 years [SD 7.4 (range 55-98)]. The mean number of medications taken was 3.6 (SD 2.4) and the mean anticholinergic load was 1.1 (SD 1.4, range 0-7). The total number of drugs taken and anticholinergic load correlated (rho = 0.44; P < 0.01). There were no differences in MMSE and other cognitive functioning at either 6 or 18 months after adjusting for baseline cognitive function, age, gender and use of cholinesterase inhibitors between those with, and those without high anticholinergenic load.

Conclusions: medications with anticholinergic effect in patients with AD were not found to effect deterioration in cognition over the subsequent 18 months. Our study did not support a continuing effect of these medications on people with AD who are established on them.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/ageing/afr102
Uncontrolled keywords: cognitive impairment; dementia and anticholinergic burden; elderly
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Tony Rees
Date Deposited: 26 Aug 2014 11:28 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:16 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/42679 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Coulton, Simon.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7704-3274
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Katona, Cornelius.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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