Anticholinergic News and Research

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Capsaicin and its health benefits

Researchers examine the health benefits associated with capsaicin, with a particular focus on how this compound impacts cognition and cardiovascular health.

28 Mar 2023

Is platelet-rich plasma therapy beneficial in treating chronic respiratory disease?

Researchers conducted a literature review to determine whether platelet-rich plasma therapy could help slow disease progression through lung regeneration in patients with chronic respiratory disease.

4 Jan 2023

Are men or women impacted more by adverse reactions to prescription drug treatments?

Recently, researchers presented an overview of sex-based differences in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) based on epidemiology, technique, and underlying mechanism data.

11 Oct 2022

New tool uses artificial intelligence to calculate harmful effects of medicines

Research led by the University of Exeter and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, published in Age and Ageing, assessed a new tool designed to calculate which medicines are more likely to experience adverse anticholinergic effects on the body and brain.

7 Sep 2022

High-risk prescribing practices associated with increased risk of disability among older adults

For many, good health and longevity is only achievable with the help of prescription drugs. However, researchers in Japan have recently identified that some "high-risk" prescribing practices may be a cause for concern among older adults.

18 May 2022

Challenges in safely deprescribing common anticholinergic drugs

Medications with anticholinergic properties have been consistently associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes for older adults including cognitive impairment, yet these drugs continue to be commonly prescribed for depression, urinary incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome and Parkinson's disease.

11 Feb 2022

Educational program on anticholinergic burden aims to improve health outcomes of older people

Falls, confusion, cognitive decline, dry mouth, constipation and urinary retention. In a new NPS MedicineWise podcast episode released today, Dr Kate Annear, NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP talks about the new NPS MedicineWise educational program on the cumulative effects of anticholinergic medicines.

15 Nov 2021

New drug can significantly reduce flashbacks and nightmares in PTSD patients

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rings a bell for many, due to its rampant references in pop culture, and more, importantly, its prevalence in today's society. It is only probable that this disorder, which develops after shocking or dangerous events, would unfortunately affect the lives of many people.

7 Jul 2021

Medications commonly prescribed for schizophrenia linked to cognitive impairment

Writing in the May 14, 2021 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry, a multi-institution team of scientists led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that medications commonly prescribed to reduce the severity of physical and mental health symptoms associated with schizophrenia may have a cumulative effect of worsening cognitive function in patients.

18 May 2021

Common class of drugs may be associated with increased risk of cognitive decline

A team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, report that a class of drugs used for a broad array of conditions, from allergies and colds to hypertension and urinary incontinence, may be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, particularly in older adults at greater risk for Alzheimer's disease.

5 Sep 2020

Can Chlorpromazine help treat COVID-19?

A new research paper published in the journal L'Encéphale in May 2020 reports on the planned ReCoVery Study, which will examine the possibility of repurposing the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine for the treatment of COVID-19.

25 May 2020

HDR UK announces £3.4m health data initiative to benefit patients

Health Data Research (HDR) UK has announced a £3.4m innovative data initiative in the North of England that will benefit patients across the UK and help address some of the most challenging health issues facing patients and the NHS.

18 May 2020

U.S. medical panel thinks twice about pushing cognitive screening for dementia

A leading group of medical experts on Tuesday declined to endorse cognitive screening for older adults, fueling a debate that has simmered for years.

25 Feb 2020

Gulf war illness – one or two diseases?

A study of veterans who have Gulf war syndrome shows that moderate exercise can bring about a spectrum of brain imaging abnormalities, which fall into one of two groups. This could mean that this is a more complicated illness than was first thought. The study was published on December 12, 2019, in the journal Brain Communications.

12 Dec 2019

Study finds increase in overall rate of exposure to natural psychoactive substances

Natural substances with psychoactive effects have been used by people for religious, medicinal and recreational purposes for millennia.

26 Nov 2019

Common medications can masquerade as dementia in seniors

By all accounts the woman, in her late 60s, appeared to have severe dementia. She was largely incoherent. Her short-term memory was terrible. She couldn't focus on questions that medical professionals asked her.

18 Jul 2019

New app created to help people reduce exposure to anticholinergic medications

A team of researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine, Regenstrief Institute and Purdue University, led by Richard Holden, PhD, is testing a new app, called Brain Safe, designed to help people reduce their exposure to a common class of drugs linked to Alzheimer's disease.

15 Jul 2019

Study: Drug reduces hot flash frequency, improves quality of life in breast cancer survivors

Research led by oncologists Roberto Leon-Ferre, M.D. and Charles Loprinzi, M.D. of Mayo Clinic has found that the drug oxybutynin helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes in women who are unable to take hormone replacement therapy, including breast cancer survivors.

7 Dec 2018

Researchers study how often healthcare providers prescribe anticholinergics for older adults

Anticholinergics are a class of medications that are often prescribed for allergies, lung disease, and urinary incontinence. They also often can increase health risks for older adults.

5 Apr 2018

Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale shows dose-response relationship with adverse outcomes

Anticholinergic burden assessed with the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale consistently shows dose-response relationships with a variety of adverse outcomes.

20 Nov 2017