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One-Third of Older Adults With Cognitive Disorders Take Drugs That Could Harm Them (opens in a new tab)

scitechdaily.com · 2026-10-12

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mixed

Mixed.

One claim goes further than the study. 2 other points were not covered by the paper.

  • 2 supported
  • 1 overstated
  • 2 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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Follow the evidence trail
1
2

NewsLink checks it

Mixed

One claim overstates the study. Two of five check out. Two claims the study doesn't address.

  • 2 supported
  • 1 overstated
  • 2 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

5 claims in this story

Showing all 5 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 5OverstatedThe medications include drugs used for anxiety, insomnia, psychosis, and other central nervous system conditions, and the article says they can increase the risk of emergency department visits, hospitalization, poorer mental health, and premature death in older adults with cognitive disorders.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The medication classes are broadly consistent with the profile’s CogPIM definition, including antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, and anticholinergics. The profile also supports adjusted associations with higher ED visit and hospitalization rates and poorer mental HRQoL. However, the story’s 'can increase the risk' wording is stronger than the cross-sectional observational evidence can establish, and premature death is not an outcome reported in the supplied profile. Thus the claim outruns the abstract-level evidence.

1

Study evidence

CogPIM exposure was associated with higher odds of poor mental HRQoL (SF-12 MCS) after IPTW adjustment and survey-weighted logistic regression.adjusted OR 1.72 (95% CI 1.31–2.25)

“We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2011-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from adults aged ≥ 65 with cognitive disorders.”
2

Study evidence

CogPIM exposure was associated with higher adjusted rates of emergency department visits.aIRR = 1.41 (95% CI 1.24–1.60), p < 0.01

“Outcomes included ... (2) healthcare utilization”
Claim 2 of 5Not coveredThe researchers used the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria and say their analysis represented approximately 29.7 million older Americans with cognitive disorders from 2011 to 2022.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedapproximately 29.7 million older Americans

Why this verdict

The profile supports the weighted population estimate of approximately 29.7 million older adults with cognitive disorders and the 2011–2022 MEPS analysis. However, the supplied abstract-level profile does not state that the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria were used, so that part cannot be verified at this evidence depth.

1

Study evidence

Annual prevalence of CogPIM exposure among community-dwelling older adults with cognitive disorders declined from 39.3% (2011) to 29.3% (2022); Joinpoint regression estimated an APC of -1.9% (p < 0.01).APC -1.9% (p < 0.01); prevalence 39.3% → 29.3%

“Outcomes included (1) annual prevalence of CogPIMs exposure”
Claim 3 of 5Not coveredThe study did not examine why prescribing declined, and the researchers suggest that increased attention to geriatric medication safety may have contributed.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports that the trend analysis was observational/repeated cross-sectional and therefore cannot establish why prescribing declined. However, the specific explanation that increased attention to geriatric medication safety may have contributed is not present in the supplied profile and cannot be verified at abstract depth.

1

Study evidence

Annual prevalence of CogPIM exposure among community-dwelling older adults with cognitive disorders declined from 39.3% (2011) to 29.3% (2022); Joinpoint regression estimated an APC of -1.9% (p < 0.01).APC -1.9% (p < 0.01); prevalence 39.3% → 29.3%

“Outcomes included (1) annual prevalence of CogPIMs exposure”
Claim 4 of 5SupportedOlder adults with dementia and other cognitive disorders are less likely than they were a decade ago to receive medications that can worsen memory, balance, and coordination, but nearly one in three still takes at least one potentially inappropriate drug.View evidenceHide evidence

As statednearly one in three

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports a population-level decline in CogPIM exposure among community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 with cognitive disorders, from 39.3% in 2011 to 29.3% in 2022. The 'nearly one in three' framing is consistent with 29.3%. The headline framing is broadly consistent with the trend result, though the paper profile specifies repeated cross-sectional population prevalence rather than within-person changes over time.

1

Study evidence

Annual prevalence of CogPIM exposure among community-dwelling older adults with cognitive disorders declined from 39.3% (2011) to 29.3% (2022); Joinpoint regression estimated an APC of -1.9% (p < 0.01).APC -1.9% (p < 0.01); prevalence 39.3% → 29.3%

“Outcomes included (1) annual prevalence of CogPIMs exposure”
Claim 5 of 5SupportedUniversity at Buffalo researchers analyzed data from 2,796 independently living adults age 65 and older with cognitive disorders, and exposure to potentially harmful medications fell from 39.3% in 2011 to 29.3% in 2022.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedfrom 39.3% in 2011 to 29.3% in 2022

Why this verdict

The profile supports the analytic sample size of 2,796 community-dwelling/independently living adults aged ≥65 with cognitive disorders and the decline in CogPIM exposure from 39.3% in 2011 to 29.3% in 2022. The institutional attribution to University at Buffalo is not contained in the supplied abstract-level profile, but the scientific content of the claim is supported.

1

Study evidence

Annual prevalence of CogPIM exposure among community-dwelling older adults with cognitive disorders declined from 39.3% (2011) to 29.3% (2022); Joinpoint regression estimated an APC of -1.9% (p < 0.01).APC -1.9% (p < 0.01); prevalence 39.3% → 29.3%

“Outcomes included (1) annual prevalence of CogPIMs exposure”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • Core causal limitation: the MEPS analyses were cross-sectional observational analyses, so temporality and causality cannot be established.

    The story caveats mention that the study did not examine why prescribing declined and that further studies are needed, but they do not clearly state the key abstract-level limitation that cross-sectional observational associations cannot establish causation or temporality. This omission is material, especially where the story says the drugs can increase risks.

    From MEPS cross-sectional IPTW-weighted survey analysis; Cross-sectional analysis of MEPS (2011–2022); Repeated cross-section

  • Trend-analysis limitation: the prescribing decline reflects repeated cross-sectional population-level prevalence trends, not longitudinal follow-up showing that the same individuals became less likely to receive CogPIMs.

    The story presents the decline in a way that is broadly understandable, but it does not clarify the repeated cross-sectional nature of the evidence or the distinction between population-level annual prevalence and within-person prescribing changes.

    From Repeated cross-sectional trend analysis (Joinpoint regression)

5 things the story did carry across
  • Study design and population: 2011–2022 MEPS cross-sectional/repeated cross-sectional analysis of community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 with cognitive disorders, unweighted n=2,796 and weighted to represent about 29.7 million people.
  • Temporal trend finding: annual CogPIM exposure prevalence declined from 39.3% in 2011 to 29.3% in 2022, with Joinpoint APC -1.9% and p<0.01.
  • Exposure definition: CogPIM exposure was defined as at least one prescription for anticholinergics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, or Z-drugs.
  • Primary HRQoL finding: CogPIM exposure was associated with higher odds of poor mental HRQoL, adjusted OR 1.72, but was not associated with poor physical HRQoL.
  • Healthcare utilization findings: CogPIM exposure was associated with higher adjusted rates of ED visits and hospitalizations, but not outpatient visits.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

3

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

secondary data

1Lead resultsecondary dataEstimate the adjusted association between CogPIM exposure and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), especially mental and physical SF-12 component scores, among older adults with cognitive disorders.MEPS cross-sectional IPTW-weighted survey analysisExpand

In plain English

Cross-sectional analysis of MEPS (2011–2022) among community-dwelling adults ≥65 with cognitive disorders evaluating whether exposure to cognitive potentially inappropriate medications (CogPIMs: anticholinergics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs; defined as ≥1 prescription) is associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by SF-12 physical and mental component scores. Using inverse probability of treatment weighting and survey-weighted logistic regression, CogPIM exposure was associated with higher odds of poor mental HRQoL (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.31–2.25) but was not associated with poor physical HRQoL.

Key findings

  • CogPIM exposure was associated with higher odds of poor mental HRQoL (SF-12 MCS) after IPTW adjustment and survey-weighted logistic regression.adjusted OR 1.72 (95% CI 1.31–2.25)
  • CogPIM exposure was not associated with poor physical HRQoL (SF-12 PCS) in adjusted analyses.
“We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2011-2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from adults aged ≥ 65 with cognitive disorders.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Cross-sectional MEPS design reported in abstract — cannot determine temporality or causation.
  • Analysis limited to community-dwelling older adults with cognitive disorders sampled in MEPS (per abstract).
2secondary dataDescribe temporal trends (annual prevalence) in cognitive potentially inappropriate medication (CogPIM) exposure among community-dwelling older adults (≥65) with cognitive disorders in MEPS, 2011–2022.Repeated cross-sectional trend analysis (Joinpoint regression)Expand

In plain English

Using 2011–2022 MEPS data for community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 with cognitive disorders (unweighted n=2,796; weighted N≈29.7 million), annual prevalence of cognitive potentially inappropriate medication (CogPIM) exposure declined from 39.3% in 2011 to 29.3% in 2022. Temporal trend analysis using Joinpoint regression yielded an annual percentage change (APC) of -1.9% (p < 0.01). CogPIM exposure was defined as ≥1 prescription of anticholinergics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, or non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (Z-drugs).

Key findings

  • Annual prevalence of CogPIM exposure among community-dwelling older adults with cognitive disorders declined from 39.3% (2011) to 29.3% (2022); Joinpoint regression estimated an APC of -1.9% (p < 0.01).APC -1.9% (p < 0.01); prevalence 39.3% → 29.3%
“Outcomes included (1) annual prevalence of CogPIMs exposure”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Analysis is based on repeated cross-sectional survey data (MEPS); observed changes represent population-level prevalence trends rather than within-individual changes.
  • Causal inference is not supported by the repeated cross-sectional trend analysis alone.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

3secondary dataEstimate the adjusted association between CogPIM exposure and healthcare utilization (ED visits, hospitalizations, outpatient visits) among older adults with cognitive disorders.Cross-sectional analysis of MEPS (2011–2022)Expand

In plain English

Cross-sectional analysis of 2011–2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data evaluating whether exposure to cognitive potentially inappropriate medications (CogPIMs: anticholinergics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs), defined as ≥1 prescription, is associated with healthcare utilization (ED visits, hospitalizations, outpatient visits) among community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 with cognitive disorders. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and survey-weighted negative binomial regression were used to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). CogPIM exposure was associated with higher rates of ED visits and hospitalizations but not with outpatient visits.

Key findings

  • CogPIM exposure was associated with higher adjusted rates of emergency department visits.aIRR = 1.41 (95% CI 1.24–1.60), p < 0.01
  • CogPIM exposure was associated with higher adjusted rates of hospitalizations.aIRR = 1.38 (95% CI 1.19–1.59), p < 0.01
“Outcomes included ... (2) healthcare utilization”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Cross-sectional observational design; authors state longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to assess causality.
  • Exposure defined as ≥1 prescription; does not capture duration, dose, adherence, or cumulative exposure.
  • Potential for residual confounding despite IPTW adjustment.
  • Findings based on MEPS survey data (population-representative survey weighting applied); details on measurement error or misclassification in MEPS not provided in abstract.
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Papers considered

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PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref · 22 candidate papers

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