National database analysis of prescription medication uses and cognitive function in older adults: An observational study

Cognitive decline is a common occurrence in elderly individuals, leading to social issues, health concerns, and placing pressure on the healthcare system. Several factors can affect cognitive function, and medication is one of the most important factors for the elderly. Thus, understanding the impact of medications on cognitive decline in the elderly is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the association between commonly used drugs in the United States and cognitive function. The study utilized bivariate analysis and multiple regression analysis on cognitive function data, prescription medication data, and other covariates data from 2 cycles of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted between 2011 and 2014. The study included 82 drugs after excluding missing data and selection criteria. The majority of these drugs were associated with lower cognitive scores compared to those who did not use prescription medications. Estradiol, naproxen, bupropion, and the combined use of triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide were found to enhance performance on 2 memory cognitive tests, immediate recall and delayed recall, but not on the processing cognitive tests, animal fluency, and digit symbol substitution test. The findings of this study provide a foundation for the selection of drugs with potential cognitive benefits for further investigation and expand knowledge on the cognitive implications of prescription medications, highlighting the possible advantages of certain drugs and the need for caution when using others.