Use of anticholinergic drugs does not increase risk for dementia in Parkinson's disease patients
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 - 12:21
in Health & Medicine
Recent evidence has shown a greater risk of dementia, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), in individuals using anticholinergic medications regularly. These drugs are widely used by older adults to treat bladder dysfunction, mood, and pain, and many of them are available without prescription. Since these drugs are often used to treat both motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), there is concern for increased risk of dementia. Contrary to expectations, a study has determined that the cognitive performance of PD patients taking anticholinergic medications did not differ from those who did not.