OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether some of the age-associated decrements in basic cognitive resources (information-processing speed and working memory) result from anticholinergic medication use (as measured by serum anticholinergic activity [SAA]) and whether such decrements are lessened by caffeine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: University medical center. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-two normal-elderly community volunteers. MEASUREMENTS: Two tests each of information-processing speed and of working memory were administered, and blood samples were drawn before and after cognitive testing to determine serum levels of anticholinergic activity and of paraxanthine-a caffeine metabolite. RESULTS: Elevated SAA was associated with a significant but modest slowing in information-processing time but only in those individuals who had low levels of serum paraxanthine. SAA did not correlate with performance on tests of working memory. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that anticholinergic medications are a relatively minor contributor to the decrements in basic processing resources commonly found in studies of normal aging.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether some of the age-associated decrements in basic cognitive resources (information-processing speed and working memory) result from anticholinergic medication use (as measured by serum anticholinergic activity [SAA]) and whether such decrements are lessened by caffeine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: University medical center. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-two normal-elderly community volunteers. MEASUREMENTS: Two tests each of information-processing speed and of working memory were administered, and blood samples were drawn before and after cognitive testing to determine serum levels of anticholinergic activity and of paraxanthine-acaffeine metabolite. RESULTS: Elevated SAA was associated with a significant but modest slowing in information-processing time but only in those individuals who had low levels of serum paraxanthine. SAA did not correlate with performance on tests of working memory. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that anticholinergic medications are a relatively minor contributor to the decrements in basic processing resources commonly found in studies of normal aging.
Authors: Marci L Chew; Benoit H Mulsant; Bruce G Pollock; Mark E Lehman; Andrew Greenspan; Ramy A Mahmoud; Margaret A Kirshner; Denise A Sorisio; Robert R Bies; Georges Gharabawi Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-05-26 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Julie A Dumas; Andrew J Saykin; Brenna C McDonald; Thomas W McAllister; Mary L Hynes; Paul A Newhouse Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 4.105