Impaired cognitive function associated with use of anticholinergic drugs may be partly attributed to underlying physical illness and exposure to factors that increase the risk of some physical disorders such as low socioeconomic status (SES) and less education. To estimate the extent of cognitive impairment and risk of progress to dementia associated with anticholinergic drug use and to estimat...

  In this study we investigated the bronchodilatory and anticholinergic effects of the aqueous extract (AE), brewed extract (BE) and ethanol extract (EE) of Polygonum avicular in comparison with saline (S) on isolated tracheal chains of the guinea pig. Due to the probable confounding effect of ethanol in the EE, the effects of this extract were also compared with 96 % ethanol. None of the plant...

INTRODUCTION Targeted deprescribing of anticholinergic and sedative medicines can lead to positive health outcomes in older people; as they have been associated with cognitive and physical functioning decline. This study will examine whether the proposed intervention is feasible at reducing the prescription of anticholinergic and sedative medicines in older people. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The St...

The link between off-target anticholinergic effects of medications and acute cognitive impairment in older adults requires urgent investigation. We aimed to determine whether a relevant in vitro model may aid the identification of anticholinergic responses to drugs and the prediction of anticholinergic risk during polypharmacy. In this preliminary study we employed a co-culture of human-derived...

Rationale: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response refers to an attenuation in response to a strong stimulus (pulse) if this is preceded shortly by a weak non-startling stimulus (prepulse). Patients with schizophrenia have repeatedly been found to show reduced PPI when compared to healthy people. Anticholinergic drugs are often used to control extrapyramidal symptoms induced by antips...

In the opera Tristan und Isolde Richard Wagner reports the poisoning of Tristan and Isolde by a “love potion.” Shortly after ingestion of the potion, the protagonists declare their love, and both die during the opera. The opera has been extensively interpreted by psychoanalysts and musicologists, but, although at least Isolde’s death remains unexplained and might be due to the potion, the medic...