Question: In adults with dementia, what is the association between cholinesterase inhibitor use and falls?

Answer:

No definite clinical implications can be made from the available evidence. The current evidence from one well-conducted systematic review (SR) does suggest that the risk of falls and fall-related adverse events is similar between patients who receive cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) compared with patients who receive placebo. The authors cautioned, however, that due to small numbers and possible underreporting of events, the possibility of small benefits or harms cannot be excluded. Two other studies reported low rates of falls in patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease. As stated by the authors of the SR, it is clear that more high-quality observational research is needed to evaluate the effect of ChEIs (and other agents) on fall-related adverse events in people with dementia.

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