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Printed on 4/21/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score quantifies cumulative anticholinergic exposure from a patient's medication list. Higher totals are associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, and other adverse outcomes, especially in older adults.
Formula: ACB total = sum of anticholinergic burden points assigned to each medication.
ACB has broad observational evidence linking higher burden with adverse geriatric outcomes.
Higher ACB totals indicate greater cumulative anticholinergic risk and support medication review.
Use in older adults and polypharmacy workflows to identify potentially modifiable medication-related cognitive risk.
Different anticholinergic scales exist and do not always assign identical medication weights.
For related assessments, see DOSS, UB-2 Delirium and 4AT.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
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