CNS-Active Meds Are Prescribed at Higher Rates for Dementia Patients

Background: Dementia is a common disease that is often complicated by chronic pain and behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD). Many patients are prescribed a variety of central nervous system (CNS)–active medications. However, there are limited data on how prescribing trends have changed over time, how prescriptions are different if a patient has dementia, and whether the prescribing pattern changes with a new diagnosis of dementia. Objective: To evaluate 13-year trends in CNS-active medication use among older adults, with and without dementia, including changes before and after diagnosis. Design: Retrospective cohort study using claims data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse. Methods: The authors included adults aged ≥65 years who had coverage between 2010 and 2022. The study team used outpatient pharmacy claims to determine which CNS-active medications were filled. They then performed a variety of statistical analyses to evaluate the trends. Results: 6,062,601 patient more...