Anticholinergics, executive function, and cognitive/behavioral changes in Down syndrome

IF 11.1 1区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Alzheimer's & Dementia Pub Date : 2025-10-13 DOI:10.1002/alz.70649

Nancy Raitano Lee, Goldie A. McQuaid, Haila Jiddou, Jessica McNulty, Hannah E. Grosman, Kamaria T. Tucker, Meghan O'Brien, Gregory L. Wallace

{"title":"Anticholinergics, executive function, and cognitive/behavioral changes in Down syndrome","authors":"Nancy Raitano Lee, Goldie A. McQuaid, Haila Jiddou, Jessica McNulty, Hannah E. Grosman, Kamaria T. Tucker, Meghan O'Brien, Gregory L. Wallace","doi":"10.1002/alz.70649","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> INTRODUCTION</h3>\n \n <p>Anticholinergic (AC) medication use is considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment and deterioration in the general population; yet, this has not been examined in Down syndrome (DS), a disorder with high dementia rates.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> METHODS</h3>\n \n <p>Family members of 108 young adults with DS (18–39 years) reported on their loved one's medication use, executive function, and changes in cognition and behavior using a dementia screener. Medications were coded for their AC potency using the CRIDECO Anticholinergic Load Scale (CALS).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> RESULTS</h3>\n \n <p>Forty percent of the sample was taking at least one medication with a CALS AC potency of ≥1. These individuals were reported to have greater executive function difficulties and more changes in cognition/behavior relative to those not taking AC medications.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> DISCUSSION</h3>\n \n <p>AC medication use may represent a modifiable risk factor for cognitive deterioration in adults with DS; more research on this topic, particularly with older adults with DS, is needed.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Highlights</h3>\n \n <div>\n <ul>\n \n <li>Identifying modifiable risk factors for dementia in Down syndrome (DS) is critical.</li>\n \n <li>A risk factor studied in the general population is anticholinergic (AC) medication.</li>\n \n <li>This risk factor has not been studied in DS, a high-risk group.</li>\n \n <li>AC medication use was associated with everyday cognitive challenges in young adults with DS.</li>\n \n <li>Longitudinal studies across adulthood, including older adults with DS, are needed.</li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":7471,"journal":{"name":"Alzheimer's & Dementia","volume":"21 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12516352/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Alzheimer's & Dementia","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70649","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Anticholinergic (AC) medication use is considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment and deterioration in the general population; yet, this has not been examined in Down syndrome (DS), a disorder with high dementia rates.

METHODS

Family members of 108 young adults with DS (18–39 years) reported on their loved one's medication use, executive function, and changes in cognition and behavior using a dementia screener. Medications were coded for their AC potency using the CRIDECO Anticholinergic Load Scale (CALS).

RESULTS

Forty percent of the sample was taking at least one medication with a CALS AC potency of ≥1. These individuals were reported to have greater executive function difficulties and more changes in cognition/behavior relative to those not taking AC medications.

DISCUSSION

AC medication use may represent a modifiable risk factor for cognitive deterioration in adults with DS; more research on this topic, particularly with older adults with DS, is needed.

Highlights

Identifying modifiable risk factors for dementia in Down syndrome (DS) is critical.
A risk factor studied in the general population is anticholinergic (AC) medication.
This risk factor has not been studied in DS, a high-risk group.
AC medication use was associated with everyday cognitive challenges in young adults with DS.
Longitudinal studies across adulthood, including older adults with DS, are needed.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

唐氏综合征的抗胆碱能、执行功能和认知/行为改变。

简介：抗胆碱能（AC）药物的使用被认为是普通人群认知功能障碍和恶化的危险因素；然而，这还没有在唐氏综合症（DS）中进行研究，唐氏综合症是一种高痴呆率的疾病。方法：108名年轻成年DS患者（18-39岁）的家庭成员通过痴呆筛查报告了他们所爱的人的药物使用、执行功能以及认知和行为的变化。使用CRIDECO抗胆碱能负荷量表（CALS）对药物的AC效价进行编码。结果：40%的样本至少服用一种CALS AC效价≥1的药物。据报道，与未服用AC药物的人相比，这些人有更大的执行功能困难和更多的认知/行为变化。讨论：AC药物的使用可能是成人退行性椎体滑移患者认知退化的一个可改变的危险因素；需要对这一主题进行更多的研究，特别是对老年退行性椎体滑移患者的研究。重点：确定唐氏综合征（DS）痴呆可改变的危险因素至关重要。在一般人群中研究的一个危险因素是抗胆碱能（AC）药物。这一危险因素尚未在DS这一高危人群中进行研究。AC药物的使用与年轻退行性痴呆患者的日常认知障碍有关。需要对成人进行纵向研究，包括老年退行性椎体滑移患者。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Alzheimer's & Dementia 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

14.50

自引率

5.00%

发文量

299

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Alzheimer's & Dementia is a peer-reviewed journal that aims to bridge knowledge gaps in dementia research by covering the entire spectrum, from basic science to clinical trials to social and behavioral investigations. It provides a platform for rapid communication of new findings and ideas, optimal translation of research into practical applications, increasing knowledge across diverse disciplines for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention, and identifying promising new research directions. In July 2008, Alzheimer's & Dementia was accepted for indexing by MEDLINE, recognizing its scientific merit and contribution to Alzheimer's research.