Polypharmacy and risk of dementia progression in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A longitudinal cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Polypharmacy is common in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but its impact on cognitive decline is unclear. Studies on the association between polypharmacy and cognitive outcomes have yielded inconsistent evidence. The objective of this study was to assess the association between polypharmacy and the risk of progression from MCI to dementia.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 237 older adults with MCI in Taiwan. Polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent use of ≥5 prescription medications. Cognitive function was assessed annually using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate the association between polypharmacy and dementia risk, adjusting for demographic and clinical

SUBMITTER: Hsu YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627230 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature