The Medication List May Be Doing More Than You Think

As a practicing physician turned private patient advocate, I have been surprised by the number of medications many of my clients take. A medication review is one of the first things I do, often resulting in conversations with their doctors about reducing specific drugs. I always look for anticholinergic medications because their effects can add up, contributing to confusion, memory problems, and increased fall risk.

This April 2018 study by Richardson, published in The BMJ, examined anticholinergic medication use in more than 320,000 older adults and found that long-term use of certain antidepressants, bladder medications, and Parkinson’s drugs was associated with a higher risk of dementia. While the study does not prove these medications cause dementia, it supports regularly reviewing medications and reducing unnecessary anticholinergic burden when possible.

Learn More: https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1315