title: Serum anticholinergic activity, white matter hyperintensities, and cognitive performance.
abstract: The authors investigated whether the cognitive impairments associated with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in normal elderly subjects are exacerbated by any anticholinergic medications being taken by the subjects. Results showed serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) and WMH volume to have a synergistic interaction such that the cognitive decrements associated with increasing WMH volume were greatest in those older individuals in the highest quartile of the SAA distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. nebesrd@upmc.edu
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Nebes
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Saxton
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Houck
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Halligan
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: DeKosky
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D000109:Acetylcholine