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13h ago

Frequent Gabapentin Prescriptions Tied to Increased Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Risk

It highlights the need for cognitive monitoring in adults on gabapentin following evidence that higher prescription counts elevate dementia and mild cognitive impairment risks.

A stock image shows a man standing alone, suffering from low back pain.
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Back pain? You might want to think twice about staying on gabapentin too long to treat it, according to the results of a new study
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Overview

  • Adults receiving six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29% more likely to develop dementia and 85% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment within 10 years.
  • Risks rose with prescription frequency: those with 12 or more prescriptions faced a 40% greater dementia likelihood and a 65% higher mild cognitive impairment risk compared to users with three to eleven fills.
  • Middle-aged adults (35–64) exhibited especially elevated risks—more than doubling dementia odds and tripling mild cognitive impairment risks—while 18- to 34-year-olds showed no increased incidence.
  • Researchers drew on TriNetX’s federated electronic health records from 68 U.S. health systems in a retrospective cohort study that cannot establish causation or account for dosage and duration.
  • The findings prompt recommendations for regular cognitive screening of gabapentin users and further research to determine whether the drug itself contributes to cognitive decline amidst potential confounding factors.