Symptoms of ageing could be more to do with the drugs the elderly take

Typical symptoms of ageing—such as incontinence, poor physical function and being unsteady and more likely to fall—could be as much to do with the multiple pharmaceuticals older people are taking.

Around a third of all over-65s are taking five or more medications a day, a phenomenon known as polypharmacy, and one in five are swallowing more than 10 drugs.

This chemical concoction could be the cause of health problems usually blamed on ageing, say researchers from Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Increased risk of falls, more frequent hospital visits, lower physical function and even death itself could be as much to do with polypharmacy, the researchers believe.

They took three years of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and focused on around 2,000 older people suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, as they were more likely to be taking five or more drugs a day.

The researchers divided the sample into one of four groups: 1) those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and polypharmacy; 2) those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias only; 3) those with polypharmacy only; and 4) those without either Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias or polypharmacy.

After taking into account the effects of Alzheimer’s, the researchers found that those who were taking five or more drugs had increased odds of falling, being hospitalized and premature death  compared to those taking fewer, or no, drugs.  They also experienced more functional decline, required more assistance with activities of daily living like eating, bathing and dressing, and were more likely to need a cane or walker.

Doctors are handing out multiple prescriptions to older people without understanding the impact the chemical mix could be having, the researchers say.

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community