Polypharmacy, commonly defined as taking five or more medications daily, is a significant health care concern impacting over 30% of older adults. It is associated with poor health outcomes like falls, medication interactions, hospitalizations and even death. Older adults are at an increased risk of experiencing polypharmacy if they have multiple chronic conditions.
While older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are more likely to be taking more than five medications, there is little research examining the impact of multiple daily medications on symptoms, health outcomes and physical function in older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Researchers from Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions recently published a study in Biological Research For Nursing examining symptoms, health outcomes and physical function over time in older adults with and without Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and polypharmacy. Led by Martha Coates, Ph.
D., a postdoctoral research fellow in the College, the research team found that individuals who practice polypharmacy and have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias experience more symptoms, falls, hospitalizations, mortality and have lower physical function—indicating that polypharmacy can also negatively impact quality of life for older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. "The cut-off of point of five or more medications daily has been associated with adverse .
