@article{6197,
  author = {Denys T. Lau and Nathaniel D. Mercaldo and Joseph W. Shega and Alfred Rademaker and Sandra Weintraub},
  title = {Functional decline associated with polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in community-dwelling older adults with dementia.},
  abstract = {<p>This study provides empirical evidence on whether polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescription medications (PIRx, as defined by the 2003 Beers criteria) increase the likelihood of functional decline among community-dwelling older adults with dementia. Data were from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, Uniform Data Set (9/2005-9/2009). Study sample included 1994 community-dwelling participants aged ≥65 with dementia at baseline. Results showed that participants having ≥5 medications were more likely to have functional decline than participants having <5 medications. However, the increased likelihood was only apparent in participants who did not have PIRx. Instead of magnifying the associated risk as hypothesized, PIRx appeared to have a protective effect albeit marginally statistically significant. Therefore, increased medication burden may be associated with functional decline in community-dwelling older adults with dementia who are not prescribed with PIRx. More research is needed to understand which classes of medications have the most deleterious effect on this population.</p>},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen},
  volume = {26},
  pages = {606-615},
  month = {12/2011},
  issn = {1938-2731},
  doi = {10.1177/1533317511432734},
  language = {eng},
}