Category: Geriatrics

Over 50% of older adults take four or more medications, a key risk factor for an unsteady gait and falls. Understanding **what drugs make it hard to walk** is crucial for patients and healthcare providers to identify potential problems, prevent falls, and maintain safe mobility.

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria explicitly lists benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, as potentially inappropriate medications for older adults due to their significant risks. For elderly patients, understanding why is lorazepam not good for the elderly is crucial for safe medication management and improved health outcomes.

The prevalence of polypharmacy (taking five or more medications) in elderly populations is estimated to be 41% [1.4.1]. This high medication use is a primary reason why older adults are the population group most prone to drug-drug interactions, which can lead to significant harm [1.2.1].

Overdose rates from opioids among adults aged 65 and older increased significantly from 2021 to 2022, highlighting the critical dangers associated with these drugs in this population. It is crucial for healthcare providers and families to understand why opioids should be avoided in the elderly unless absolutely necessary and used with extreme caution.

Hospitalization rates due to adverse drug effects are 4 to 7 times higher in older patients than in younger patients. A primary contributor is polypharmacy, making it the most common cause of adverse drug reactions in older adults. This issue arises not only from the sheer volume of drugs but also from complex age-related changes in the body that alter how medications are processed and their effects are felt.

An estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's in 2025 [1.7.2]. This staggering number fuels the urgent search for effective treatments, leading many to ask: What is the miracle drug for Alzheimer's?

The average lifespan is increasing globally, and with it comes a growing older population facing cardiovascular disease risk. For this demographic, a key question for patients and clinicians is, "At what age is statin no longer beneficial?" The answer is not a simple number, but rather a nuanced assessment that depends on whether the medication is used for primary or secondary prevention and the patient's overall health.

According to a systematic review published in the Cochrane Library, donepezil provides small benefits in cognitive function for people with mild, moderate, or severe dementia over a period of 12 to 24 weeks. This leads many to wonder, can donepezil slow down dementia's relentless progression, or does it simply mask the symptoms?

While cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept are standard for Alzheimer's, studies indicate that these medications offer no proven benefit for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a condition that causes frontal lobe dementia. In some cases, Aricept may even exacerbate challenging behavioral symptoms.

Delirium affects up to one-third of all patients staying in the hospital, and a key modifiable risk factor is medication use. Understanding **what medications are at risk for delirium** is crucial for patients, families, and healthcare providers to prevent and manage this serious condition.