medicines with anti-cholinergic properties have a significant adverse effect on cognitive and physical function , but limited evidence exists for delirium or mortality outcomes
OBJECTIVES to determine the effect of drugs with anti-cholinergic properties on relevant health outcomes .
Assessment of cognitive function of the elderly population: effects of darifenacin.
PURPOSE Overactive bladder is common in the elderly population , which is susceptible to cognitive disorders and drug induced cognitive impairment . Existing overactive bladder treatments may cause adverse events , such as cognitive impairment , due to antagonism of the M1 receptor in the central nervous system . In this study we evaluated the effect of darifenacin , an M3 selective antagonist , on cognitive function in elderly volunteers without clinical dementia . MATERIAL S AND METHODS This double-blind , 3-period crossover study r and omized 129 volunteers 65 years or older with no/mild cognitive impairment to receive 3 of 5 treatments , namely darifenacin controlled release ( 3.75 , 7.5 or 15 mg once daily ) , darifenacin immediate-release ( 5 mg 3 times daily ) or matching placebo for 14 days . Each treatment period was separated by 7 days of washout . Cognitive function tests were completed at baseline and at treatment end . RESULTS For the primary end points of memory scanning sensitivity , speed of choice reaction time and word recognition sensitivity , there were no statistically significant differences for darifenacin vs placebo . There were no statistically significant differences in secondary variables except memory scanning speed , which increased in all groups relative to baseline , but improvement was greater with placebo than with 3.75 mg darifenacin . Darifenacin treatment was not associated with changes in alertness , contentment or calmness , which are likely to be clinical ly relevant . Darifenacin was well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS : In elderly volunteers 2 weeks of treatment with darifenacin had no effect on cognitive function compared with baseline and it was not significantly different from placebo . This may be related to its M3 receptor selectivity with negligible M1 receptor antagonism
medicines with anti-cholinergic properties have a significant adverse effect on cognitive and physical function , but limited evidence exists for delirium or mortality outcomes
OBJECTIVES to determine the effect of drugs with anti-cholinergic properties on relevant health outcomes .