Drug-induced cognitive impairment caused by medications for neurological disorders

Naoki Tomita¹⁾, Hiroyuki Arai²⁾

^1)>Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tohoku University Hospital
²⁾Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University

In the present paper, we review the cognitive safety of medications for neurological disorders. The pharmacological mechanism of cognitive adverse effects potentially includes disruption of some normal neurotransmission. To review, we classify neurological medications into four groups (Cholinergic, Histaminergic, GABAergic, Opioid receptor pathway). We also discuss the difference between “drug-induced cognitive impairment” and “drug-induced dementia”.

Address correspondence to Dr. Hiroyuki Arai, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University (4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan)