$1.5m for study to reduce multiple medication for elderly people

Australia lacks effective guidelines to prevent polypharmacy, says dementia researcher

Many older Australians are taking up to six prescribed medications daily, with at least one of these causing adverse health effects such as mental confusion, according to a University of South Australia medical researcher.

Emily Reeve, a dementia researcher with the university’s clinical and health services, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant by the National Health and Medical Research Council for a five-year study to investigate ways to reduce polypharmacy—or inappropriate multiple prescriptions—for older patients.