According to a large new study, a commonly prescribed pain medication used by millions of Americans for chronic back pain may be associated with a concerning increase in the risk of dementia and other cognitive problems.
Researchers Compared More Than 26,000 Adults
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and several collaborating institutions examined medical records from 68 health systems across the United States. The study compared 26,414 adults who had been prescribed gabapentin for persistent lower-back pain with a similar group experiencing comparable pain but who had not taken the medication.
The findings raised concerns. Adults who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were found to be 29% more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis and 85% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over the following 10 years.
Interestingly, the increased risk was not confined to older adults. Younger patients in the study appeared to experience some of the most significant increases in cognitive-related diagnoses.
The researchers emphasized that the findings show an association rather than proving that gabapentin directly causes dementia or cognitive decline. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship and determine what factors may contribute to the observed risks
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