The use of anti-cholinergic Drugs by older patients has been linked with mild cognitive impairment, according to a new study in France.
An anti-cholinergic drug is one that opposes or blocks the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Drugs with anti-cholinergic effects include some bronchodilators, antihistamines, analgesics, anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, antiparkinsonian agents and corticosteroids.
Elderly patients taking any of these drugs may consequently experience "significant deficits in cognitive functioning," according to Marie Ancelin, PhD, a senior research fellow at the French national health research unit.
Read the full story here