What Did the Research Discover?
Researchers studied whether benzodiazepine use is linked to a higher risk of dementia or cognitive decline in older adults. The study followed 3,434 participants aged 65 and older in Seattle, Washington, who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. They were observed for an average of 7.3 years, with cognitive tests given every two years to track their memory and thinking abilities.
The researchers looked at benzodiazepine use over a 10-year period, measuring the total number of doses taken. They found that people with low to moderate benzodiazepine use had a slightly higher risk of dementia, but those with the highest level of use did not have an increased risk. There was no clear link between benzodiazepine use and a faster decline in cognitive function over time.
These results suggest that while benzodiazepines may slightly increase dementia risk at lower doses, they do not appear to directly cause dementia, and higher use did not show a stronger effect.
How Can I Apply This Information?
If you or a loved one takes benzodiazepines for anxiety, sleep, or other conditions, this study suggests that low to moderate use may be linked to a slightly higher dementia risk, but there is no strong evidence that these medications directly cause dementia. Since benzodiazepines can have other side effects, including drowsiness and falls, it is important to discuss long-term use with a doctor to weigh the risks and benefits.
For healthcare providers, these findings suggest that prescribing benzodiazepines should be done with caution in older adults, especially for long-term use. While the study does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, monitoring cognitive health in patients using these medications is recommended.
More research is needed to fully understand how benzodiazepines affect brain health over time, but this study provides reassurance that higher doses do not necessarily increase dementia risk.
Source:
Gray SL, Dublin S, Yu O, Walker R, Anderson M, Hubbard RA, Crane PK, Larson EB. Benzodiazepine use and risk of incident dementia or cognitive decline: prospective population based study. bmj. 2016 Feb 2;352. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4737849/
