Taking five or more medications daily, known as polypharmacy, is a growing issue for over 30% of older adults. This practice is linked to various health risks, including falls, negative drug interactions, hospital stays, and even an increased risk of death.
Older adults with multiple chronic health problems are especially at risk. Those with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias are even more likely to experience polypharmacy, but research has only just started to explore how this impacts their health and daily functioning.
A recent study led by Dr. Martha Coates from Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions aimed to fill this research gap by examining how polypharmacy affects physical health, symptoms, and general well-being in older adults with and without Alzheimer’s disease.
Published in Biological Research for Nursing, the study reveals that individuals with both Alzheimer’s and polypharmacy face more severe symptoms, higher rates of falls, increased hospitalizations, and a greater risk of death, highlighting how polypharmacy can reduce quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s.
The researchers used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a large dataset from Johns Hopkins University that tracks social, physical, and functional health factors in aging adults across the U.S.
The study focused on data from 2016 to 2019, examining four groups: those with Alzheimer’s and polypharmacy, those with Alzheimer’s alone, those with polypharmacy alone, and those without either condition.
With a sample of 2,052 individuals, the researchers used methods to make this data represent the broader U.S. population of 12 million Medicare beneficiaries, increasing the study’s relevance.
The study showed that older adults with both Alzheimer’s and polypharmacy suffer more symptoms and are more likely to experience serious issues like falls, hospitalization, and functional decline compared to those without these conditions.
These individuals also need more help with basic activities, such as eating, bathing, and dressing, and are more likely to rely on assistive devices like canes or walkers.
This combination of Alzheimer’s and multiple medications appears to place these individuals in a particularly vulnerable position, increasing the chance of physical and cognitive decline.
Dr. Coates explained that each additional medication raises the risk of harmful side effects or drug interactions. Health providers have tools to help review and adjust medication regimens for older adults on multiple medications.
However, there are currently no specific tools for safely managing medications in older adults with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Coates pointed out the need for more research and resources to create better guidelines for managing polypharmacy specifically in patients with Alzheimer’s.
Given the rapid growth in the elderly population in the U.S.—expected to reach 80 million people over 65 by 2040—these findings are timely.
As Alzheimer’s rates rise, polypharmacy-related risks will also increase, underscoring the importance of managing medications to prevent unnecessary disability and improve quality of life.
Dr. Coates and her team hope this study will serve as a foundation for further research into how specific medications affect health outcomes in Alzheimer’s patients.
Future efforts will likely focus on developing targeted approaches to optimize medication use in this vulnerable population, aiming to prevent complications and improve daily life for older adults living with Alzheimer’s and polypharmacy.
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The research findings can be found in Biological Research For Nursing.
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