Common back-pain drug may be linked to higher dementia risk, large study finds

by

For people normally considered decades away from dementia:

  • Ages 35–49 taking gabapentin had more than double the risk of dementia.
  • Their risk of MCI more than tripled.
  • Adults 50–64 saw similarly elevated risks.
  • Only those 18–34 showed no increased risk.

Researchers published their results in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine and didn’t mince words: “Our results support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline.”

More prescriptions = more risk

Like any medication, gabapentin can cause side effects. Some of the more common ones include feeling dizzy, unusually tired, experiencing swelling from fluid retention, and having a dry mouth. Earlier research has also linked gabapentin use to potential breathing problems.

However, the study from Case Western Reserve University found a clear pattern: the more gabapentin someone took, the greater the cognitive risks.

  • Those with 12+ prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia.
  • They were 65% more likely to develop MCI.

This held true even after accounting for health conditions, demographics, and other medications.Continue reading…

Leave a Comment