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Browsing by Author "Fox, Chris"
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Item Neuropathological Correlates of Cumulative Benzodiazepine and Anticholinergic Drug Use(IOS Press, 2020-04) Richardson, Kathryn; Wharton, Stephen B.; Grossi, Carlota M.; Matthews, Fiona E.; Fox, Chris; Maidment, Ian; Loke, Yoon K.; Steel, Nicholas; Arthur, Antony; Myint, Phyo Kyaw; Boustani, Malaz; Campbell, Noll; Robinson, Louise; Brayne, Carol; Savva, George M.; Medicine, School of MedicineBackground:Benzodiazepines and anticholinergic drugs have been implicated in causing cognitive decline and potentially increasing dementia risk. However, evidence for an association with neuropathology is limited. Objective:To estimate the correlation between neuropathology at death and prior use of benzodiazepines and anticholinergic drugs. Methods:We categorized 298 brain donors from the population-based Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study, according to their history of benzodiazepine (including Z-drugs) or anticholinergic medication (drugs scoring 3 on the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale) use. We used logistic regression to compare dichotomized neuropathological features for those with and without history of benzodiazepine and anticholinergic drug use before dementia, adjusted for confounders. Results:Forty-nine (16%) and 51 (17%) participants reported benzodiazepine and anticholinergic drug use. Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic change was similar whether or not exposed to either drug, for example 46% and 57% had intermediate/high levels among those with and without anticholinergic drug use. Although not significant after multiple testing adjustments, we estimated an odds ratio (OR) of 0.40 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.18–0.87) for anticholinergic use and cortical atrophy. For benzodiazepine use, we estimated ORs of 4.63 (1.11–19.24) and 3.30 (1.02–10.68) for neuronal loss in the nucleus basalis and substantial nigra. There was evidence of neuronal loss in the nucleus basalis with anticholinergic drug use, but the association reduced when adjusted for confounders. Conclusions:We found no evidence that benzodiazepine or anticholinergic drug use is associated with typical pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease; however, we cannot rule out effects owing to small numbers.Item Patients' attitudes of dementia screening across the Atlantic(Wiley, 2009-06) Justiss, Michael D.; Boustani, Malaz; Fox, Chris; Katona, Cornelius; Perkins, Anthony J.; Healey, Patrick J.; Sachs, Greg; Hui, Siu; Callahan, Christopher M.; Hendrie, Hugh C.; Scott, Emma; Department of Medicine, IU School of MedicineBACKGROUND: Dementia is a common and growing global public health problem. It leads to a high burden of suffering for society with an annual cost of $100 billion in the US and $10 billion in the UK. New strategies for both treatment and prevention of dementia are currently being developed. Implementation of these strategies will depend on the presence of a viable community or primary care based dementia screening and diagnosis program and patient acceptance of such a program. OBJECTIVE: To compare the acceptance, perceived harms and perceived benefits of dementia screening among older adults receiving their care in two different primary health care systems in two countries. DESIGN: A Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care clinics in Indianapolis, USA and Kent, UK. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 245 older adults (Indianapolis, n = 125; Kent, n = 120). OUTCOMES: Acceptance of dementia screening and its perceived harms and benefits as determined by a 52-item questionnaire (PRISM-PC questionnaire). RESULTS: Four of the five domains were significantly different across the two samples. The UK sample had significantly higher dementia screening acceptance scores (p < 0.05); higher perceived stigma scores (p < 0.05); higher perceived loss of independence scores (p < 0.01); and higher perceived suffering scores (p < 0.01) than the US sample. Both groups perceived dementia screening as beneficial (p = 0.218). After controlling for prior experience with dementia, acceptance and stigma were marginalized. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults attending primary care clinics across the Atlantic value dementia screening but have significant concerns about dementia screening although these concerns differed between the two countries. Low acceptance rates and high rates of perceived harms might be a significant barrier for the introduction of treatment or preventive methods for dementia in the future.