Centre for Policy on Ageing



Changes in medication use and functional status of community dwelling Alzheimer's patients after consultation at a memory clinic
Author(s)	Kirsten Lindner, Michel Bédard, D William Molloy
Journal title	Clinical Gerontologist, vol 22, no 3/4, 2000
Pages	pp 13-22
Source	http://www.tandfonline.com
Keywords	Dementia ; Living in the community ; Drugs ; Cognitive processes ; Geriatric out-patients clinics ; Clinical surveys ; Canada.
Annotation	Given that medication can have adverse effects on older people, particularly those with cognitive impairment, this Canadian study aimed to determine whether a memory clinic could help reduce medication use and improve function in 99 older people with Alzheimer's disease. Medication was reduced from 3.4 prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications before assessments, to 2.9 at follow-up. Overall cost was reduced by 8.84US per patient per month, representing a potential yearly saving on more than $10,000US for the sample studied. Decreases in overall medication were associated with increases in cognition as measured by the Standardised Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Memory clinics for AD patients may have health and economic benefits. Causal links between the assessment process and outcomes require further study. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-010531213 A
Classmark	EA: K4: LLD: DA: L6G: 3G: 7S
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.