Prescription Opioids and Risk of Dementia or Cognitive Decline: A Prospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine whether prescription opioid use is associated with higher dementia risk or greater cognitive decline.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Group Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system.

Participants

Community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and older without dementia with at least 10 years of Group Health enrollment at baseline (N = 3,434; median age 74).

Measurements

The Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) was administered every 2 years. Low scores triggered detailed evaluation, and a multidisciplinary committee assigned dementia diagnoses. From computerized pharmacy data, cumulative opioid exposure was defined as total standardized doses (TSDs) dispensed over 10 years (excluding the most recent year because

SUBMITTER: Dublin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4776316 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature