A recent Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that opioid prescriptions can have a negative effect on cognitive function in older adults. Using data from the Mayo Clinic Aging Study, the research team found that 70% of participants received at least one opioid prescription over an average of 7.5 years.
And each prescription was associated with declines in cognitive performance, especially in memory, language and attention. People who received opioids also had a 20% greater chance of developing cognitive dysfunction, a state of cognitive decline that goes beyond normal aging.
Dr. Nafisseh Warner, anesthesiologist and pain physician, emphasizes the importance of including this information in making shared decisions between patients and healthcare professionals about optimal pain management strategies. Dr. Warner, who is supported by the National Institute of Aging and was a Kern Health Care Delivery Fellow at the Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, points out that treatment should be personalized for each patient with the assessment of risks and benefits and rigorous clinical follow-up.
Although pain is common in older adults, the study authors suggest that the use of prescription opioids should be carefully evaluated, considering the risks and benefits for each patient. They believe that the study results could lead to the development of more effective treatment strategies for older adults, in addition to helping to mitigate the negative impact of opioid prescription on cognitive function.
However, the mechanisms by which opioids may lead to cognitive decline are not fully understood, and it remains unclear whether opioid prescription is a marker for other conditions associated with cognitive dysfunction or whether there is a direct causal relationship.
Dr. Warner emphasizes that any treatment decision must be made considering what matters most to the patient, including the patient’s health, life goals, and care preferences. When embarking on opioid therapy, it is important to optimize for other factors that may be protective of cognitive decline, such as sleep, exercise, and socialization.
A recent Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that opioid prescriptions can have a negative effect on cognitive function in older adults. Using data from the Mayo Clinic Aging Study, the research team found that 70% of participants received at least one opioid prescription over an average of 7.5 years.
And each prescription was associated with declines in cognitive performance, especially in memory, language and attention. People who received opioids also had a 20% greater chance of developing cognitive dysfunction, a state of cognitive decline that goes beyond normal aging.
Dr. Nafisseh Warner, anesthesiologist and pain physician, emphasizes the importance of including this information in making shared decisions between patients and healthcare professionals about optimal pain management strategies. Dr. Warner, who is supported by the National Institute of Aging and was a Kern Health Care Delivery Fellow at the Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, points out that treatment should be personalized for each patient with the assessment of risks and benefits and rigorous clinical follow-up.
Although pain is common in older adults, the study authors suggest that the use of prescription opioids should be carefully evaluated, considering the risks and benefits for each patient. They believe that the study results could lead to the development of more effective treatment strategies for older adults, in addition to helping to mitigate the negative impact of opioid prescription on cognitive function.
However, the mechanisms by which opioids may lead to cognitive decline are not fully understood, and it remains unclear whether opioid prescription is a marker for other conditions associated with cognitive dysfunction or whether there is a direct causal relationship.
Dr. Warner emphasizes that any treatment decision must be made considering what matters most to the patient, including the patient’s health, life goals, and care preferences. When embarking on opioid therapy, it is important to optimize for other factors that may be protective of cognitive decline, such as sleep, exercise, and socialization.
