The Change of Cognitive Function after Administration of Tolterodine in Brain Disease Patients with Overactive Bladder

Puropose: It is known that anticholinergics induces cognitive dysfunction and may aggravate the state of it. Tolterodine tartrate (detrusitolR) is a widely known selective anticholinergics to bladder, which does not cause a cognitive dysfunction. This study was designed to analyze the change of cognitive function of brain disease patients, whom are taking anticholinesterase inhibitor with tolterodine for overactive bladder (OAB). Material and methods: From January 2001 to December 2004, with the patients whom have been followed for the brain disease in the department of neurology, we have analyzed 79 patients with tolterodine administered for OAB. We used K-MMSE (Korea minimental status examination) and SNSB (seoul neuropsychological screening battery) to analyze the state of cognition. Mean age of patients was 67.3±4.5 (yrs), mean administration period was 4.7±9.5 (mon). Results: 7 patients made complaints for the decline of memory, 2 of them with Parkinsonism and 2 with cerebral infarction, 1 with progressive supranuclear palsy and, 2 dementia with lewy body (DLB). Patients with DLB was excluded in this study because the disease had fluctuation of cognitive function. Conclusions: The result of these studies demonstrates tolterodine tartrate caused the decline of cognitive function in only a few patients with brain disease. We concluded that prospective studies are needed to change the cognitive functions of the brain disease patients with OAB after administration of tolterodine tartrate. (J Korean Continence Soc 2008;12:133-8)