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Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
Published on: April 18, 2011
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The association between medication use and cognitive performance in people with SCI
Noelle E Carlozzi1, Jonathan P Troost2, Neena Singhal1
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation Psychology
|October 7, 2021
Summary
Medication use in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients showed limited impact on cognitive function. Opioid and benzodiazepine use were linked to some cognitive declines, but overall associations were not robust.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Polypharmacy is prevalent in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
- Many SCI medications have complex side effect profiles.
- Understanding medication effects on cognition in SCI is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between different medication classes and cognitive function in SCI.
- To explore how polypharmacy impacts cognitive performance in SCI.
Main Methods:
- An observational study involving 173 individuals with SCI.
- Self-reported medication use.
- Comprehensive cognitive testing assessing processing speed, attention, memory, and executive function.
- Multivariable linear regressions to analyze medication-cognition associations.
Main Results:
- No robust overall relationship between medication use and cognitive function in SCI.
- Opioid analgesic use associated with slower processing speed, attention deficits, poorer working memory, executive dysfunction, and increased subjective cognitive complaints.
- Benzodiazepine use linked to slower processing speed, poorer working memory, and worse executive function.
- Anticonvulsant use related to worse delayed free recall memory.
- Increased number of medication categories correlated with slower processing speed and worse subjective cognitive function.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find a strong link between general medication use and cognitive function in SCI.
- Preliminary evidence suggests potential associations between benzodiazepine and opioid use and cognitive performance.
- Further research is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
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