Confusion, dementia and anticholinergics in Parkinson's disease.
Among a population of 75 hospitalised Parkinsonian subjects, confusional states were observed in 46% of demented patients not receiving anticholinergic drugs and in 93% of demented patients under anticholinergic therapy. The sensitivity of demented Parkinsonians to anticholinergic drugs can be attributed to a cholinergic deficiency which has been detected in the cortex and hippocampus of Parkinsonian patients post-mortem. The observations suggest that anticholinergic medication should be avoided in Parkinsonians with intellectual impairment.
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003221:Confusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D010276:Parasympatholytics; D007980:Levodopa