Medications that affect the brain are commonly used in older adults, but they can sometimes do more harm than good. Drugs such as antipsychotics, sleeping pills, and anxiety medications can cause side effects like confusion, falls, and worsening memory.
These risks are especially serious for people who already have cognitive problems, such as dementia. A new study from UCLA, published in JAMA Network Open, helps explain where these medications often begin and why they continue to be used.
The study followed more than a thousand older adults across the United States over many years. Researchers wanted to understand where patients first received prescriptions for medications that affect thinking and memory. They also looked at how long patients continued to take these drugs.
The findings showed that many of these prescriptions do not start in regular doctor’s offices. Instead, they often begin in hospitals, emergency departments, and nursing facilities. These are places where patients may be dealing with sudden health problems or recovering from illness.
This is important because decisions made in these settings can have long-term effects. Once a medication is started, it may continue even after the patient returns home. The study found that a large number of patients were still taking these medications one year later.
The results were especially concerning for people with dementia. These patients were more likely to receive these medications and more likely to continue using them over time. For example, more than half of patients with dementia who started one of these drugs were still taking it a year later.
The study also showed that these medications are prescribed more often in hospital settings than would be expected based on how often patients visit those settings. This suggests that hospitals and similar facilities may play a key role in starting treatments that carry risks.
Researchers believe this information can help improve patient care. By focusing on where prescriptions begin, healthcare systems can develop better strategies to reduce unnecessary use. This might include reviewing medications before patients leave the hospital or providing clearer guidelines for doctors.
The study also raises questions about why these medications are prescribed in the first place. Previous research has shown that many prescriptions for brain-affecting drugs do not have a clear medical reason. This suggests that some patients may be receiving medications that they do not truly need.
There are some limitations to the study. For example, researchers could not always confirm exactly where a prescription started. However, the overall pattern was strong and consistent.
In summary, this research shows that hospitals and similar care settings are major starting points for medications that affect the brain. These medications often continue long after they are first prescribed, especially in patients with dementia.
By understanding this pattern, doctors and policymakers can take steps to reduce risks and improve care for older adults. Future efforts should focus on making prescribing safer and more thoughtful, particularly in high-risk settings.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
Source: University of California, Los Angeles.
