Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2020
Review Meta AnalysisThe effects of opioids on cognition in older adults with cancer and chronic non-cancer pain: A systematic review.
Opioids are prescribed to manage moderate-to-severe pain and can be used with older adults; however, they may lead to several adverse effects, including cognitive impairment. ⋯ Both improvements and impairments to cognition were observed in studies with higher mean opioid doses. In clinical practice, a brief screening tool assessing attention, language, orientation, psychomotor function, and verbal working/delayed episodic memory may be beneficial to detect worsening cognition in older adults with chronic pain using opioids.