"A line has been drawn — and the hockey world is divided"
— The official synopsis of the new book from Heated Rivalry’s author. This is not a drill.
Care
The Dementia Drug Dilemma
What’s going on: About one in four people with dementia on traditional Medicare are prescribed brain-altering drugs that doctors have warned against for years, according to a new study published in JAMA. The list includes antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, certain antidepressants, and sleep medications — all of which can worsen confusion and raise the risk of falls or hospital visits in older adults. Researchers analyzed prescriptions from 2013-2021 and found that older people with cognitive impairment or dementia were more likely to receive those drugs than their cognitively healthy peers.
What it means: Doctors caution that the study has limits, and that prescribing decisions often reflect day-to-day symptoms that might not appear in medical records, as well as difficult risk-benefit trade-offs. If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, it’s reasonable to ask these questions — especially after a fall, a hospital stay, or when a new sleep or anxiety medication is added. Keep the conversation collaborative, and ask whether a safer option could work just as well. For extra support, consider a specialist who works with older patients: Here’s a searchable list of geriatricians and geriatric pharmacists. You can also check this comprehensive list of meds that could be risky for older adults, or this abbreviated option, before an appointment. Finally, bring a complete, up-to-date list of all medications, digital or printed, so every doctor sees the full picture.
