title: The Effects of Anti-Dementia and Nootropic Treatments on the Mortality of Patients with Dementia: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the contribution of treatment on the mortality of dementia based on a population-based study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of anti-dementia and nootropic treatments on the mortality of dementia using a population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  12,193 incident dementia patients were found from 2000 to 2010. Their data were compared with 12,193 age- and sex-matched non-dementia controls that were randomly selected from the same database. Dementia was classified into vascular (VaD) and degenerative dementia. Mortality incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival time was 3.39 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.88-3.79) for VaD without medication, 6.62 years (95% CI: 6.24-7.21) for VaD with nootropics, 3.01 years (95% CI: 2.85-3.21) for degenerative dementia without medication, 8.11 years (95% CI: 6.30-8.55) for degenerative dementia with anti-dementia medication, 6.00 years (95% CI: 5.73-6.17) for degenerative dementia with nootropics, and 9.03 years (95% CI: 8.02-9.87) for degenerative dementia with both anti-dementia and nootropic medications. Compared to the non-dementia group, the HRs among individuals with degenerative dementia were 2.69 (95% CI: 2.55-2.83) without medication, 1.46 (95% CI: 1.39-1.54) with nootropics, 1.05 (95% CI: 0.82-1.34) with anti-dementia medication, and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.80-1.05) with both nootropic and anti-dementia medications. VaD with nootropics had a lower mortality (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.15-1.37) than VaD without medication (HR: 2.46, 95% CI: 2.22-2.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacological treatments have beneficial effects for patients with dementia in prolonging their survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Public Health & Department of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health & Department of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lok-Hi
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health & Department of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yiing-Jenq
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Aging and Health Research Center, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Ning
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D025442:Dihydroergocristine; D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D000077265:Donepezil; D005702:Galantamine; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans; D008559:Memantine; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines; D010889:Piracetam; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007189:Indans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D025442:Dihydroergocristine; D005702:Galantamine; D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D000077265:Donepezil; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D008559:Memantine; D010889:Piracetam