title: Long-term effects of antidepressants on cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Approximately 25-40% of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may develop depression. Antidepressants are typically used to treat depression in this population. However, their effect on cognition has been rarely studied and the results are conflicting. In addition, the long-term effects of antidepressants on cognition have not been studied. Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate the effects on cognition in patients with AD treated with antidepressants for at least 9 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on antidepressant use over a minimum period of 9 months were retrospectively collected for patients with AD receiving cholinesterase inhibitors. Data on cognition were analyzed to compare those taking antidepressant therapy and those not receiving antidepressants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-nine of 210 patients met our inclusion criteria. Fifty-eight patients were prescribed an antidepressant (e.g. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), newer generation antidepressants). Sertraline (mean dose: 82 mg/day) and citalopram (mean dose: 35 mg/day) were the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. The baseline mean Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was 16.32 with an average annual rate of cognitive decline of 2.55 for patients receiving antidepressants compared with 16.59 (P = NS) and 2.27 (P = NS) for those not taking antidepressants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our small sample data indicate no differences in baseline MMSE scores and cognitive decline between the two groups, suggesting antidepressants did not contribute significantly to cognitive decline over a utilization period of at least 9 months.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beversdorf
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scharre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nahata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors