Drug-induced alzheimerism
R. Kurlan and P. Como
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester (NY), School of Medicine.
A 74-year-old man with parkinsonism developed progressive cognitive and
behavioral dysfunction suggesting coexistent Alzheimer's disease. The
intellectual and behavioral disturbances were reversed following withdrawal
of his anticholinergic antiparkinsonian medication. This case demonstrates
that anticholinergic drugs used to treat parkinsonism may mimic or
exacerbate the clinical signs of Alzheimer's disease and suggests that
these medications should be withdrawn for all parkinsonian patients who
develop significant impairments of cognition or behavior.
