Cognitive, behavioral, and physiological changes in Alzheimer disease patients as a function of incontinence medications.
OBJECTIVE
Authors evaluated the cognitive, neurophysiologic, and behavioral effects of incontinence medications in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).


METHODS
Nine patients were evaluated, both on and off incontinence medication, for cognitive status, neuropsychiatric status, activities of daily living, and serum anticholinergic level. Caregivers were interviewed to evaluate behavioral status and caregiver burden.


RESULTS
Patients showed better performance on specific measures of cognition and behavior when not taking medication for incontinence. A significant, inverse correlation was found between mental status and anticholinergic level.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the sample size was small, the findings suggest that, in patients with AD, incontinence medications with anticholinergic properties may have detrimental effects on mental status and behavior.
Jewart
Rita D
RD
Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Wesley Woods Health Center, 1841 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. rjewart@emory.edu
Green
Joanne
J
Lu
Ching-ju
CJ
Cellar
Janet
J
Tune
Larry E
LE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017028:Caregivers; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000097:blood; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003408:Cresols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011594:Psychometrics; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014851:Wakefulness
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D003408:Cresols; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate