Cognitive screening tools can be used in home medication review

(HealthDay)—Suitable cognitive screening tools can be used by pharmacists during home medication review, according to research published online July 5 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.

Howraa Abed, B.Pharm., from the Charles Darwin University in Casuarina, Australia, and colleagues conducted a systematic review of the literature to examine a suitable cognitive screening tool that can be used by pharmacists during home medication review, in addition to calculation of the total anticholinergic burden (ACB) of medications.

The researchers note that specialist training is required for the mini-mental state examination, Rowland dementia assessment scale, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition, Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale, and Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment. There was no need for prior training for the anxiety and depression checklist (K10) and the 'worried about your memory' (WAYM), which could be self-administered. The total medications ACB could be determined with the ACB scoring system.

"The K10 and WAYM can be used by the pharmacist during medication reviews to detect cognitive impairment early and refer the elderly for further medical care supported by the calculated score for the patient's total medications' ACB," the authors write.