Cognition-Affecting Drugs Often Start in Acute Care - Summary - MDSpire

Cognition-Affecting Drugs Often Start in Acute Care

Older patients frequently continued these medication classes 1 year after initiation

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • May 1, 2026

  • 3 min

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Objective:

To analyze the initiation of medications that adversely affect cognition in older patients following acute or postacute care encounters.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • 14% of patients with no cognitive impairment, 17% with cognitive impairment, and 22% with dementia had medication initiations following acute care.
    • 43% of dementia patients who initiated antipsychotics had their last encounter in an acute setting.
    • 38% of patients with no cognitive impairment, 44% with cognitive impairment, and 51% with dementia continued a medication in the same class after 1 year.
    Interpretation:

    Transitions from acute or postacute care are critical points for medication review, especially for patients with cognitive impairment or dementia.

    Limitations:
    • Claims-based design could not confirm the prescribing site or clinician.
    • Clinical indication or appropriateness of prescriptions was not established.
    • The study did not assess continuous medication use throughout the year.
    Conclusion:

    Efforts to reduce prescriptions of cognition-affecting medications should focus on acute or postacute care settings.

    Sources:

Original Source(s)

Cognition-Affecting Drugs Often Start in Acute Care

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • May 1, 2026

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