Anticholinergic Exposure Research Paper

Restlessness, irritability, emotional unstable, increased risk of strokes, less able to remain independent, less able to make own choices, less able to take decisions

The disease called Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (Weiner, 1987). It is estimated that the elderly population will double between now and 2030. During this period, the number of elderly will grow by an average of 2.8% annually (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is estimated to range from 11.3 million to 16 million (Alzheimer’s Association, 2005). These startling numbers should prompt an examination into one of the leading causes of death among this group of people. Understanding what Alzheimer’s is and the known causes of the disease are a good starting point. For those who have aging family members, knowing the risk factors and warning

The term ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms which can include loss of memory, mood changes and problems with communication and reasoning. These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain conditions and diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. 
Age is the greatest risk factor for dementia. Dementia affects one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in six over the age of 80. However, dementia is not restricted to older people: in the UK, there are over 17,000 people under the age of 65 with dementia, although this figure is likely to be an underestimate.

We carried out an extensive review of the literature on non-pharmacological treatments for dementia using Medline and other related searches, but this is not intended to be a formal systematic review.

The articles utilized were from electronic databases of: CINAHL, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, Wiley Online Library, FIU Library, Salem Press, Alzheimer’s Organization, and OCLC First Search.

One of the most prominent and perhaps most feared condition associated with aging is dementia. The family of disorders can cause individuals to lose their mind, reducing one from being a complex, thinking, feeling human being to being confused and vegetative, unable to recognize their loved ones. Serious dementia affects nearly 37 million people globally, but predictions of how those numbers will change over the next few decades are conflicting (textbook). Although we know dementia as to do with damage to nerve cells in the brain, there are ongoing studies looking at correlations between other health issues and these types of diseases.

Recent studies indicate that limiting the use of certain medications can improve a senior's life. One study, conducted by researchers at Indiana University, finds that the prolonged use of anticholinergics may cause physical changes within the brain that could lead to dementia. Furthermore, The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) released information related to a program it started in 2014: This study examined how the discontinuation of antipsychotic medications affected the seniors who were taking them to treat dementia. The results indicate that seniors’ lives may improve when antipsychotic medications (that are being used to treat dementia) are discontinued.

Although more elderly people seek treatment for alcohol abuse, it is not the most commonly abused substance among this population. Compared to adolescents and younger adults, illegal drug use among older adults is rare, however prescription drug abuse is common. Over 1/3 of all prescription medication sold in the United States is used by elder individuals, and most of the prescribed drugs have high abuse potential (Doweiko, p. 256). Consequently, more people over the age of 65 abuse prescription drugs than any other substance. Because of age-related medical problems, undiagnosed mood disorders (such as chronic depression, often magnified by social factors such as loss of peers or a spouse), and changed body chemistry, this population is particularly vulnerable to the effects of and the abusive properties of pharmaceuticals. These factors combined with the fact that many elderly adults have multiple prescriptions that can interact with each other and compound the risk for addiction. Out of all the drugs prescribed to older adults, sedatives and benzodiazepines potentially cause the greatest concern. Benzodiazepines are prescribed to older adults more than any other age group. According to the Center for Substance Abuse

A research study was conducted by Dr. Helen Kales and others as to whether or not antipsychotic drugs increased mortality rate in elderly dementia patients. In her article in The American Journal of Psychiatry, Kales concluded, “Antipsychotic medications taken by patients with dementia were associated with higher mortality rates than were most other medications used for neuropsychiatric symptoms.” According to Dr. Lyketos, who did a presentation about dementia patients, “A few neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients include: depression, sundowning, anxiety, repetitious questioning, and sleep disturbance” (Lyketos). Sundowning is one of the most common symptoms and occurs when the patient suffers “increased confusion and agitation at cyclic

Dementia is not a part of normal aging process. Dementia is a decline of cognitive function that interferes someone’s ability to meet the daily life activities. There is no specific diagnostic tool to confirm the disease. It is figured out by behavioral changes. The older adults are the most common victims of this disease. They cannot make fair judgement for any decisions, solve any problems and recall recent events. Since they have a memory impairment, safety is a big issue with independent living older adults. Usually aging population has more than one chronic health conditions. They usually take multiple prescription medications throughout the day in different times. If you ask them what are the pills for and when you take the pills. The

Dr. William E. Reichman is a specialized physician having almost 30 years of experience in the care of patients suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and related causes of Dementia. As well as he has done a research focused on Alzheimer’s drug development and the effectiveness of dementia care approaches in institutionalized settings. Since 2008, He has been the President and CEO of Bay crest Health Sciences in Toronto, and a global leader in seniors’ residential living, health care, neuroscience research, and education. He is currently a Professor of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Alzheimer's Disease is a condition that affects 50% of the population over the age of eighty five, which equals four million Americans each year. It is becoming an important and high-profile issue in today's society for everyone. There are rapid advancements being made in the fight against this disease now more than ever, and the purpose of this essay is to educate the public on the background as well as the new discoveries. There are many new drugs that are being tested and studied every day which slow down, and may even halt the progress of the disease.

Elderly patients that take several medications compound the risk of developing an adverse drug reaction. Not only does the aging process have an effect on how elderly bodies process medication, but elderly people take more medications than their younger counterparts. According to Conry (2005), the elderly patient takes an average of 5 prescription medications and two non-prescription medications (Conry, 2005). While medications are frequently necessary to enhance the quality of life of the elderly, non-pharmacologic methods should be used whenever possible. Healthcare providers need to understand how aging impacts the body’s response to medications, which drugs pose more risk to

During my first clinical rotation as a nursing student, I was assigned to care for several older adults suffering from dementia. Although all of my patients ranged in severity from mild to severe progression of dementia, they all experienced moments of agitation, anxiety, or disturbed behaviors related to their disease. It occurred to me after careful review of several patient charts that despite often being prescribed pharmaceutical regimes for other comorbidities, these patients were rarely prescribed medications, besides those to control anxiety, specifically targeted at treating their progressing dementia. Through some research I discovered that the significant number of individuals affected with dementia is a growing public health concern in part due to the current limited ability of pharmaceutical treatments to treat the disease (Samson, Clement, Narme, Schiaratura, & Ehrle, 2015). This revelation began my interest in current nonpharmacological treatments being implemented in controlling adverse behaviors and feelings in patients diagnosed with dementia.

Dementia is a progressive process, with the symptoms and decline in function often worsening, sometimes rapidly, overtime. Although the elderly population are most frequently affected, many younger patients can also be affected. Currently, no cure, be it medical or behavioural, has been isolated, however certain treatments have proved beneficial in delaying the onset or staying off further rapid deterioration. In addition to pharmaceutical treatment modalities, other support and managerial techniques may enable n enhanced quality of life.