ABSTRACT
Older adults use a wide variety of medications both those prescribed by their practitioner as well as those purchased over the counter. Some of these agents can produce significant side effects which may significantly impact cognitive functioning. This chapter surveys the current state of knowledge regarding medication effects on cognition in older adults. From a cognitive perspective, the most problematic agents include the anticholinergic medications, either through their direct effect or as a consequence of anticholinergic side effects associated with treatments for other conditions, as well as the significant impact of the ongoing use of benzodiazepines. Other agents (i.e. proton pump inhibitors) which have been thought to produce significant residual cognitive effects have, with more detailed and systematic investigation, proven not to do so. A brief review of the agents employed to provide symptomatic alleviation of the dementias is also considered.
