TY - JOUR
T1 - Benzodiazepines and antidepressants
T2 - Effects on cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia
AU - Borda, Miguel Germán
AU - Jaramillo-Jimenez, Alberto
AU - Oesterhus, Ragnhild
AU - Santacruz, Jose Manuel
AU - Tovar-Rios, Diego Alejandro
AU - Soennesyn, Hogne
AU - Cano-Gutierrez, Carlos Alberto
AU - Vik-Mo, Audun Osland
AU - Aarsland, Dag
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Objectives: We aim to study the effects of the prescription of benzodiazepines and antidepressants on cognitive and functional decline in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) over a 5-year follow-up. Methods: This is a longitudinal analysis of a Norwegian cohort study entitled “The Dementia Study of Western Norway” (DemVest). We included 196 patients newly diagnosed with AD (n = 111) and LBD (n = 85), followed annually for 5 years. Three prescription groups were defined: only benzodiazepines (BZD), only antidepressants (ADep), and the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants (BZD-ADep). Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to analyze the effect of the defined groups on the outcomes. The outcomes were functional decline, measured by the Rapid Disability Rating Scale—2, and cognition measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results: Prescription of the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants in LBD was associated with faster functional decline. In AD, the prescription of BZD and BZD-ADep was associated with greater functional deterioration. ADep alone did not show positive or negative significant associations with the studied outcomes. Conclusions: BZD and especially the combination of BZD and ADep are associated with functional decline in AD and LBD and should be used cautiously.
AB - Objectives: We aim to study the effects of the prescription of benzodiazepines and antidepressants on cognitive and functional decline in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) over a 5-year follow-up. Methods: This is a longitudinal analysis of a Norwegian cohort study entitled “The Dementia Study of Western Norway” (DemVest). We included 196 patients newly diagnosed with AD (n = 111) and LBD (n = 85), followed annually for 5 years. Three prescription groups were defined: only benzodiazepines (BZD), only antidepressants (ADep), and the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants (BZD-ADep). Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to analyze the effect of the defined groups on the outcomes. The outcomes were functional decline, measured by the Rapid Disability Rating Scale—2, and cognition measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results: Prescription of the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants in LBD was associated with faster functional decline. In AD, the prescription of BZD and BZD-ADep was associated with greater functional deterioration. ADep alone did not show positive or negative significant associations with the studied outcomes. Conclusions: BZD and especially the combination of BZD and ADep are associated with functional decline in AD and LBD and should be used cautiously.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Antidepressive Agents
KW - Lewy body dementia
KW - activities of daily living
KW - benzodiazepines
KW - cognitive decline
KW - dementia
KW - functional disability
KW - hypnotics and sedatives
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099376467&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/gps.5494
DO - 10.1002/gps.5494
M3 - Article
C2 - 33382911
AN - SCOPUS:85099376467
SN - 0885-6230
VL - 36
SP - 917
EP - 925
JO - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
IS - 6
ER -