Anticholinergic Drug Exposure and the Risk of Dementia: A Nested Case-Control Study.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Anticholinergic medicines have short-term cognitive adverse effects, but it is uncertain whether long-term use of these drugs is associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Objective

To assess associations between anticholinergic drug treatments and risk of dementia in persons 55 years or older.

Design, setting, and participants

This nested case-control study took place in general practices in England that contributed to the QResearch primary care database. The study evaluated whether exposure to anticholinergic drugs was associated with dementia risk in 58 769 patients with a diagnosis of dementia and 225 574 controls 55 years or older matched by age, sex, general practice, and calendar time. Information on prescriptions for 56 drugs with strong anticho

SUBMITTER: Coupland CAC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6593623 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature