title: [Cognitive decline of medicamentous etiology].
abstract: In the elderly there is a high risk of inappropriate medication and adverse effects of polypharmacy. A 68 year-old female patient resorted to the Emergency Room for suspected stroke. According to the husband, in the six months prior to admission, she became progressively disorientated and dependent. She had resorted to various appointments from different specialties and was polymedicated. It was impossible to clarify the exact dosage. On neurological examination she presented disturbance in attention and memory, disorientation, constructional apraxia, myoclonus and gait imbalance. After the suspension of all chronic medication, she showed gradual improvement. By the time of discharge, her neurological examination was completely normal. Iatrogenic effect of drugs as a cause of reversible dementia should be considered. All patients, particularly the elderly and their caregivers, should be suitably informed about the drugs that are prescribed and the dosages used. Using the biopsychosocial model could prevent inappropriate polypharmacy and iatrogeny.
authors.affiliation: Medicina Geral e Familiar. Unidade de Saúde Familiar Aquae Flaviae. Chaves. Portugal.. luispedrocaldeira@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia. Hospital de Braga. Braga. Portugal.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varanda
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia. Hospital de Braga. Braga. Portugal.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia. Hospital de Braga. Braga. Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia. Hospital de Braga. Braga. Portugal.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019338:Polypharmacy