Adverse effects of anticholinergic activity on cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The total scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the score of MMSE domain of registration and recall were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) score, the number of different kinds of prescribed psychotropic medications (the number of prescribed psychotropic medications) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the SAA (+) group than in the SAA (-). These results suggest that a higher number of psychotropic medications prescribed leads to a tendency for SAA to be positive and that anticholinergic activity accelerates Alzheimer's pathology and decreases cognitive function, especially memory in AD patients. We should more prudently prescribe psychotropic medications to AD patients, because the prescribed psychotropic medications are one of the important causes of decline in cognitive function of AD patients by way of anticholinergic activity.