A variety of drugs that doctors prescribe for these problems fall into a class known as anti­cholinergic medications. These drugs work to block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This sub­stance affects the way nerve impulses are transmitted, thus producing such effects as reduced blood pressure or lesser symptoms of depression. Some are used to control allergies or stomach acid and others to reduce incontinence.

A recent study found that these medications are producing undesirable effects on older per­sons. One of the very noticeable changes is that older people taking these medications are walk­ing more slowly. In essence, many are behaving in a way that would be characteristic of a person who is several years older than their current chronological age.

“These results were true even in older adults who have normal memory and thinking abili­ties,” said Kaycee M. Sink, M.D., lead author of the study recently completed at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “For older adults taking a moderately anticholinergic medication, or two or more mildly anticholinergic medications, their function was similar to that of someone three to four years older.”

Generally, blood pressure medications have a mild level of anticholinergic properties. Antacids would have a higher amount, and incontinence medications would be very high in the blocker. In the study of more than 3,000 persons with an average age of 78 years, 40 percent of the partici­pants were taking more than one anticholinergic drug.

In another study, researchers found that patients who received dementia drugs and medica­tion for incontinence at the same time had a 50 percent faster decline in their functions than did persons who were being treated only for dementia. “Over a year’s time, the decline we observed would represent a resident going from requiring only limited assistance in an activity to being completely dependent, or from requiring only supervision to requiring extensive assistance in an activity,” said Dr. Sink.

The two most common medical conditions in nursing homes for which drugs are given have to do with dementia and urinary incontinence. Caregivers who are responsible for aging parents or loved ones in a nursing home would be wise to check with the person’s physician regarding prescriptions for these two conditions. If anticholinergic medications and dementia medicines are both being prescribed, there is a very good chance that the aging process of the patient will be rapidly accelerated, according to the results of this study.

Source: Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Press Release. “Dual Treatment of Incontinence and Dementia Associated with Functional Decline” May 2008. http://wwwl.wfubmc.edu/News/NewsARticle.htm?ArticlelD=2359 and Science Daily. Press Release. “Commonly Used Medications Associated with Impaired Physical Function in Older Adults?’ May 2008. ttp://www.sciencedaily.com:80/releases/2008/05/080504095641.htm