Adverse drug reactions among elderly patients pose a significant
clinical problem. The authors used a serum radioreceptor assay [RRA] to
quantify drug-induced muscarinic blockade in 34 randomly selected nursing
home residents. A random intervention group and the nonintervention control
subjects were then retested 4 weeks later. The reduction of serum
antimuscarinic activity (as determined by RRA) did relate to changes on
several measures of cognitive function. A calculated "antimuscarinic index"
lost significance with the RRA following intervention and may have
overestimated the impact of a dosage reduction.Abstract Teaser