Key result
Withdrawal of beta-blockers (propranolol and atenolol) resulted in marked improvement of insidious mental impairment in three elderly patients.
Why the study?
Do beta-blockers cause or exacerbate mental impairment in elderly patients?
Case Report (n=3)
Do beta-blockers cause or exacerbate mental impairment in elderly patients?
Beta-blockers, both lipophilic and hydrophilic, may cause or exacerbate reversible cognitive impairment in elderly patients.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May indicate reversible cognitive effects of beta-blockers in elderly patients; leaves open need for prospective confirmation before practice change.
We report the cases of three elderly patients presenting with insidious mental impairment whilst receiving both lipophilic and hydrophilic beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents (propranolol and atenolol respectively). In each case marked improvement occurred on drug withdrawal. Two of our cases probably had early senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type and continued to exhibit signs of mild mental impairment, but the third was restored to normal functioning. We found no evidence of impaired perfusion to suggest a vascular basis for the effect or of depression. We believe that beta-blockade may cause or exacerbate mental impairment in the elderly.
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Rogers et al. (1990) conducted a case report in Cognitive impairment (n=3). Beta-blockers (propranolol and atenolol) vs. Drug withdrawal was evaluated on Improvement in mental impairment upon drug withdrawal. Withdrawal of beta-blockers (propranolol and atenolol) resulted in marked improvement of insidious mental impairment in three elderly patients.
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