A retrospective analysis of the effects of anticholinergic medication on memory performance in Parkinson's disease.
We examined the effects of anticholinergic medication on memory function in 113 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Subjects were divided into three disease duration groups: early, middle, and advanced. The battery consisted of three tasks assessing memory of logical discourse, semantically related words, and figural material. We found no evidence of anticholinergic-induced memory dysfunction in any of the three groups. Analysis of covariance indicated that age was not a significant variable; however, dementia may have influenced the relationship between anticholinergic medication and memory scores. Our results indicate that anticholinergic medication does not uniformly compromise memory function in PD patients.
Levin
B E
BE
Department of Neurology, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
Llabre
M M
MM
Reisman
S
S
Weiner
W J
WJ
Brown
M C
MC
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics