A widely used medication for chronic back pain may be associated with an increased risk of dementia and other cognitive problems, according to a large new U.S. study.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and multiple partner institutions analyzed medical records from 68 health systems, comparing 26,414 adults prescribed gabapentin for persistent low-back pain with a matched group of patients who had similar pain but did not take the drug.
Concerning findings
The results raised concerns:
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Adults who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were
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29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia
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85% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within 10 years
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The increased risk was not limited to older adults. In fact, middle-aged patients showed the largest increases.
Younger adults saw notable risk increases
Among people typically considered decades away from dementia:
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Ages 35–49:
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More than double the risk of dementia
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More than triple the risk of MCI
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Ages 50–64:
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Similarly elevated risks
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Ages 18–34:
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No increased risk observed
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The researchers wrote in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine:
“Our results support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline.”
