Cognitive, behavioral, and physiological changes in Alzheimer disease patients as a function of incontinence medications

Objective: Authors evaluated the cognitive, neurophysiologic, and behavioral effects of incontinence medications inpatients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: Nine patients were evaluated, both on and off incontinence medication, for cognitive status, neuropsychiatric status, activities of daily living, and serum anticholinergic level. Caregivers were interviewed to evaluate behavioral status and caregiver burden. Results: Patients showed better performance on specific measures of cognition and behavior when not taking medication for incontinence. A significant, inverse correlation was found between mental status and anticholinergic level. Conclusion: Although the sample size was small, the findings suggest that, in patients with AD, incontinence medications with anticholinergic properties may have detrimental effects on mental status and behavior.