An evidenced based checklist to support anti-dementia medication withdrawal in people with down syndrome (DS), intellectual disability (Id) and dementia

Abstract

DS with aging is associated with greatly increased risk of developing dementia similar to Alzheimer's. Anti-dementia drug discontinuation is recommended when clinical benefit is not determined. In DS it is more complex as medication ill effects of stopping needs to be weighed in balance to extraneous processes such as environment changes, sensory impediments and physical ill health and natural progression of dementia.

Aim

Can identified risk factors extracted from a comprehensive literature review be developed into an evidence based check list to support risk minimized person centered withdrawal of anti-dementia drugs when considered not to be efficacious in DS?

Method

A detailed literature review using Medline, PsychInfo, Cinahl and Embase with relevant search terms in various permutations and combinations without any date limit enquiring current evidence base on anti-dementia medication withdrawal was conducted. The review also looked to extract the common risk factors in stopping medication. All risk factors were collated, reviewed by a focus group of experts, developed into a checklist.

Results

Thirty abstracts were obtained following the search. Six papers were short-listed. No papers identified a structured approach to medication reduction. An 18-factor checklist was applied prospectively to 30 cases. The checklist was sensitive to identify change to guide clinical decision-making.

Conclusions

Currently, decision to peg medication withdrawal risk is arbitrary and clinical in dementia especially in DS dementia. The evidenced based developed checklist is useful to support and structure clinical decisions. It helps clinicians and patients to focus on promoting safety, reduce harm and guide treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.