I am always curious about the baseline mental functioning in the elderly patients. There is a new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, November 26, 2012 which suggests that after 60 days on an anticholinergic (e.g. benadryl pm, diphenhydramine taken for sleeping problems or some urinary-incontinence rx's ) , 30% of elderly pts suffer a measurable decline in cognitive function. I'll be sure to include those drug questions in my SAMPLE histories...
impaired mental function..anticholinergics
- Thread starter kaisardog
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Arovetli
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Im not paying so I didnt read the full paper, but the methodology is isn't ironclad, so be careful drawing conclusions. It wasn't designed to be a definitive study, but to point out a time range, and further the association of ACs with MCIs, to lay a foundation for future study.
I don't think the concepts in the study are really ground breaking, and there are older papers already out there on the topic. It just advances to knowledge base a bit.
While it is commendable to do a thorough assessment including medication hx, I dont think that presently this changes anything for EMS. Its just another step on the path to understand aging and the brain and related disorders.
But it great that you are reading literature and thinking how it can be incorporated in your patient care.
I don't think the concepts in the study are really ground breaking, and there are older papers already out there on the topic. It just advances to knowledge base a bit.
While it is commendable to do a thorough assessment including medication hx, I dont think that presently this changes anything for EMS. Its just another step on the path to understand aging and the brain and related disorders.
But it great that you are reading literature and thinking how it can be incorporated in your patient care.