A recent study has found that patients taking gabapentin for nerve pain and epilepsy are at a higher risk of developing dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The medication, commonly used to treat chronic lower back pain, was linked to a 29% increase in dementia diagnoses and an 85% increase in mild cognitive impairment among those with six or more prescriptions.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Arizona State University, and the MetroHealth Medical Center analyzed 26,416 records of patients with chronic lower back pain. The study found that younger adults (35-49 years old) were particularly at risk, as well as those who received multiple prescriptions.
While the study cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect link between gabapentin and dementia, physicians are advised to monitor their patients’ cognitive health closely. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results, but this latest research adds to growing concerns about the medication’s potential side effects.
Gabapentin works by dampening brain communication channels to alleviate pain and seizures. However, some worry that it may also damage these links, potentially leading to dementia. The study highlights the need for further research into the underlying mechanisms of this relationship.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/dementia-linked-with-treatment-for-chronic-lower-back-pain