Pharmacologically Altering the Minds of the Old, Sick, and Dying

The percentage of the world’s population that falls into the category of “_elderly_” has increased and is expected to greatly increase in the upcoming decades. The burden for the physical and mental well-being of the elderly has largely fallen upon health professionals and caregivers in various living environments. This article reviews and discusses the common use of psychotropic drugs among elderly populations worldwide despite the increased sensitivity of the aged central nervous system to the effects of these drugs, and the greatly increased risk of falls, fractures, fainting, and hospital admission for adverse events due to the usage of psychotropic drugs in this age sector. _Psychotropic Polypharmacy, Potentially Inappropriate Medication_, and the mind-altering effects of psychotropic drugs in the elderly population are also explained. Finally, we discuss the near-universal usage of psychotropic drugs in _end-of-life protocols_ used in palliative care, hospice, and end-of-life treatment centers.