Anticholinergic drugs and incident dementia, mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline: a meta-analysis

Pieper, Nina T., Grossi, Carlota M., Chan, Wei-Yee, Loke, Yoon K., Savva, George M., Haroulis, Clara, Steel, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1528-140X, Fox, Chris ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9480-5704, Maidment, Ian D., Arthur, Antony J., Myint, Phyo K., Smith, Toby O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1673-2954, Robinson, Louise, Matthews, Fiona E., Brayne, Carol and Richardson, Kathryn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0741-8413 (2020) Anticholinergic drugs and incident dementia, mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline: a meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 49 (6). 939–947. ISSN 0002-0729

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: the long-term effect of the use of drugs with anticholinergic activity on cognitive function remains unclear. METHODS: we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitive decline in the older population. We identified studies published between January 2002 and April 2018 with ≥12 weeks follow-up between strongly anticholinergic drug exposure and the study outcome measurement. We pooled adjusted odds ratios (OR) for studies reporting any, and at least short-term (90+ days) or long-term (365+ days) anticholinergic use for dementia and MCI outcomes, and standardised mean differences (SMD) in global cognition test scores for cognitive decline outcomes. Statistical heterogeneity was measured using the I2 statistic and risk of bias using ROBINS-I. RESULTS: twenty-six studies (including 621,548 participants) met our inclusion criteria. 'Any' anticholinergic use was associated with incident dementia (OR 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.32, I2 = 86%). Short-term and long-term use were also associated with incident dementia (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.17-1.29, I2 = 2%; and OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.22-1.85, I2 = 90%). 'Any' anticholinergic use was associated with cognitive decline (SMD 0.15; 95% CI 0.09-0.21, I2 = 3%) but showed no statistically significant difference for MCI (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.97-1.59, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: anticholinergic drug use is associated with increased dementia incidence and cognitive decline in observational studies. However, a causal link cannot yet be inferred, as studies were observational with considerable risk of bias. Stronger evidence from high-quality studies is needed to guide the management of long-term use.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.
Uncontrolled Keywords: anticholinergics,cognition,dementia,meta-analysis,older people,systematic review,ageing,geriatrics and gerontology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1302
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Mental Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Dementia & Complexity in Later Life
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Institute for Volunteering Research
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 13 Aug 2020 23:58
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2024 02:52
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/76433
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afaa090

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