2 weeks Ago By Ashima Sharda Mahindra
Alzheimer’s disease patients who are prescribed fistfuls of daily medicines are at greater risk of long-term harm, including early death, a new study has warned. According to research by Drexel University's College of Nursing in Philadelphia, those with severe cognitive decline suffer from more symptoms, falls, and hospitalizations. “They also experienced more functional decline, required more assistance with activities of daily living like eating, bathing, and dressing, and were more likely to need an assistive device like a cane or walker,” said Martha Coates, lead researcher with Drexel University’s College of Nursing.
Also known as polypharmacy - taking more than five medicines in a day - is a significant concern for folks as they age, researchers noted. “The cut-off of point of five or more medications daily has been associated with adverse health outcomes in previous research, and as the number of medications increase the risk of adverse drug events and harm increases,” Coates said in a Drexel news release. More than 30 per cent of the elderly are affected by polypharmacy Statistics show more than 30 per cent of elderly people are affected by polypharmacy in general.
However, researchers say there is not much known about how polypharmacy affects those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. For this study, published in the journal Biological Research for Nursing, researchers studied extensive data from the National Health and Ageing Trends Study - a research project from Johns Hopkins University focusing on Medicare beneficiaries. They analyzed in detail samples of more than 2,000 people from 2016 to 2019 to track changes in symptoms, diseases, and physical function.
“We found that older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and polypharmacy experienced more unpleasant symptoms, increased odds of falling, being hospitalized, and mortality compared to those without Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and polypharmacy,” Coates said. There are tools available to help health care providers manage heavy medication regimens for older adults, but these tools are not specifically designed to fit the needs of people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, Coated noted. Why is polypharmacy dangerous for those with Alzheimer's? According to scientists, the drug interactions between Alzheimer's disease medications and those for the treatment of physical illnesses can reduce their efficacy and increase side effects.
Researchers also say there are several tools available to help doctors review and manage medication regimens for older adults experiencing polypharmacy and possibly take out those that are potentially inappropriate or no longer provide benefits. However, currently, there are no specific tools like that for older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The research team anticipates this study will help guide future analysis of the impact of specific medications on health outcomes in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and that it provides a foundation to support intervention development for medication optimization.
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