BACKGROUND: Medications prescribed to elderly persons often have an anticholinergic effect, as do many commonly used over-the-counter drugs. Anticholinergic medications are known to produce psychomotor slowing, especially in older persons. METHODS: The present study examined whether the cumulative anticholinergic load present in the serum of community volunteers was associated with decrements on tests of psychomotor performance (gait speed and simple manual response time) known to predict falls in elderly persons. RESULTS: Serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) was relatively low in this group; however, an elevated SAA was associated with a significant slowing in both gait speed and simple response time. CONCLUSION: Cumulative anticholinergic burden may be one of the factors contributing to an increased risk of falls in the older population.
BACKGROUND: Medications prescribed to elderly persons often have an anticholinergic effect, as do many commonly used over-the-counter drugs. Anticholinergic medications are known to produce psychomotor slowing, especially in older persons. METHODS: The present study examined whether the cumulative anticholinergic load present in the serum of community volunteers was associated with decrements on tests of psychomotor performance (gait speed and simple manual response time) known to predict falls in elderly persons. RESULTS: Serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) was relatively low in this group; however, an elevated SAA was associated with a significant slowing in both gait speed and simple response time. CONCLUSION: Cumulative anticholinergic burden may be one of the factors contributing to an increased risk of falls in the older population.
Authors: Stephanie Studenski; Subashan Perera; Kushang Patel; Caterina Rosano; Kimberly Faulkner; Marco Inzitari; Jennifer Brach; Julie Chandler; Peggy Cawthon; Elizabeth Barrett Connor; Michael Nevitt; Marjolein Visser; Stephen Kritchevsky; Stefania Badinelli; Tamara Harris; Anne B Newman; Jane Cauley; Luigi Ferrucci; Jack Guralnik Journal: JAMA Date: 2011-01-05 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Danijela Gnjidic; Robert G Cumming; David G Le Couteur; David J Handelsman; Vasi Naganathan; Darrell R Abernethy; Sarah N Hilmer Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2009-07 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Katrijn Smulders; Marian L Dale; Patricia Carlson-Kuhta; John G Nutt; Fay B Horak Journal: Parkinsonism Relat Disord Date: 2016-07-17 Impact factor: 4.891