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. 1982 Dec;45(12):1161–1164. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.45.12.1161

Confusion, dementia and anticholinergics in Parkinson's disease.

Y de Smet, M Ruberg, M Serdaru, B Dubois, F Lhermitte, Y Agid
PMCID: PMC491705  PMID: 7161613

Abstract

Among a population of 75 hospitalised Parkinsonian subjects, confusional states were observed in 46% of demented patients not receiving anticholinergic drugs and in 93% of demented patients under anticholinergic therapy. The sensitivity of demented Parkinsonians to anticholinergic drugs can be attributed to a cholinergic deficiency which has been detected in the cortex and hippocampus of Parkinsonian patients post-mortem. The observations suggest that anticholinergic medication should be avoided in Parkinsonians with intellectual impairment.

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Selected References

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