Monday, May 05, 2008

Update

Got a few post ideas floating around, still trying to get settled back into a NY groove... for now enjoy this news story that goes right to the heart of "You got drugs, you got surgery, you got us":

Commonly Used Medications Associated With Impaired Physical Function In Older Adults

Older adults who take drugs designed to block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine -- including common medications for incontinence, high blood pressure and allergies -- are more likely to be dependent in one or more activities of daily living and to walk slower, according to new findings from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.

Of course this could have some impact on that:

One In Four Disabled Seniors Use Risky Or Ineffective Medicines, USA

Roughly a quarter of Americans with disabilities age 65 and older reported using at least one prescription drug deemed inappropriate for persons his or her age, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Only about half as many (13 percent) of elderly people without disabilities used inappropriate drugs, according to the analysis of 2004 data. Thirty-three medications are regarded as inappropriate for people 65 and older.

1 Comments:

At 5:01 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Additionally - taking >4 medications increases the older person's risk of falls. Vicious cycle.

 

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