The Older Brain on Drugs: Substances That May Cause Cognitive Impairment

Authors and Disclosures

Jenny Rogers, MD, Psychiatry Department, Postgraduate Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

Bonnie S. Wiese, MD, Psychiatry Department, Postgraduate Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

Kiran Rabheru, MD, CCFP, FRCP, Clinical Associate professor, Psychiatry Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

Disclosure: No competing financial interests declared.

Sidebar: Key Points

Moderate to high alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors for development of dementia prior to age 65.
Acute and chronic opioid use is associated with neuropsychological deficits in executive functions, attention, concentration, recall, visuospatial skills, and psychomotor speed.
Despite benzodiazepines being on the list of Beers criteria of inappropriate medications for older adults and a trend towards decreased prescribing, tranquilizer use among older adults persists at a significant rate.
Anticholinergic effects are associated with use of a wide range of both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Polypharmacy (defined as use of five or more drugs) is found in as many as 40% of those older than 65 years.