title: Cognitive, behavioral, and physiological changes in Alzheimer disease patients as a function of incontinence medications.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Wesley Woods Health Center, 1841 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. rjewart@emory.edu
authors.forename: Rita D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Jewart
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Ching-ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cellar
authors.forename: Larry E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Tune
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D003408:Cresols; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate