Cognition and Dementia Study: Anticholinergics, Benzos, Z-drugs

The following study should also be of interest to the many BBs who are also taking anticholinergic medications, such as Amitriptyline (Elavil) and Cylcobenzaprine (Flexeril).

https://www.uea.ac.uk/drug-safety-and-dementia/home

The ABCD  (Anticholinergics, Benzodiazepines, Cognition and Dementia) study is comprised of three work packages that will be drawn together to evaluate the evidence for exploring whether anticholinergic medication, benzodiazepine or Z-drug use lead to cognitive decline and increased dementia risk.

Work package 1 - Primary Care Studies

We are using routine primary care data collected through the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), to examine whether long-term prescriptions for Anticholinergics, Benzodiazepines and Z-drug are associated with greater dementia incidence in the older UK population.

Work package 2 - Cohort Studies

We are using data from various cohort studies, including the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS) and The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), to examine whether Anticholinergic, Benzodiazepine and Z-drug use are associated with cognitive decline. Using MRC CFAS we are also able to look at whether neuropathological changes occur for those with long-term exposure to Anticholinergics, Benzodiazepines or Z-drugs.

Work package 3 - Systematic Reviews

Finally, we will evaluate and synethesis the available international evidence from various sources as well as the results from our observational studies to answer the questions as to whether Anticholinergic, Benzodiazepine and Z-drug use are associated with cognitive decline and increased dementia incidence.

Interesting! Thanks for posting the info about ABCD, abcd!