Drugs with anticholinergic properties: cognitive and neuropsychiatric side-effects in elderly patients.
Drug consumption in older people is usually high and many prescribed medications have unsuspected anticholinergic (ACH) (Table 1) properties. Drug induced ACH side-effects are particularly severe in aging brain and even more in demented patients. This review will focus on the association between ACH drug intake and the risk of developing central nervous system side-effects in elderly people. The threat of developing cognitive impairment, psychosis and delirium will be particularly analyzed.
Cancelli
Iacopo
I
Department of Neurology, Santa Maria Della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.
Beltrame
Massimiliano
M
Gigli
Gian Luigi
GL
Valente
Mariarosaria
M
D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists