Iatrogenic (drug induced) cognitive disorders

Abstract

This article discusses the clinical and pathogenetic aspects of iatrogenic (drug induced) cognitive disorders. It is emphasized that in most cases the etiology of these disorders is multifactorial in nature. In some cases, iatrogenic disorders are caused by the intake of an inadequately large dose of the drug, while in other cases, they are caused by the side effect of drugs. Disorders such as cerebral homeostasis, impaired permeability of the bloodbrain barrier and the neurochemical properties of a certain drug are important. Side effects of drug therapy in elderly patients are much more common than in patients of a younger age, which is due to a number of causes, namely the poly-pragmasy characteristic of the elderly patients, erroneous prescription of certain drugs, drug interactions, altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and increased sensitivity to medications. Various groups of drugs are considered, during the intake of which, neuropsychiatric disorders may occur. In this case, special attention is paid to drugs with cholinolytic properties. Neurological disorders arising from radiation therapy were analyzed separately. It was concluded that it is necessary to assess the possible adverse effect of previously prescribed drug therapy for various indications in patients with cognitive impairment.