Effects of amantadine and trihexyphenidyl on memory in elderly normal volunteers
Anticholinergic drugs impair one's ability to learn new material, even at routine clinically used doses. During the trihexyphenidyl phase of this double-blind crossover trial, elderly normal subjects complained of confusion and memory impairment and demonstrated a pattern of deficits in memory function compatible with that previously reported to result from anticholinergic drugs. The subjects neither complained of nor demonstrated memory impairment while taking amantadine, which is believed to exert its pharmacological effects upon extrapyramidal disorders via dopaminergic mechanism and does not appear to be associated with memory impairment. Anticholinergic drugs should be avoided whenever possible in the elderly and especially in those suffering dementia.
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- Psychiatry
- 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- 11 Medical and Health Sciences
Citation
Published In
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Psychiatry
- 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- 11 Medical and Health Sciences