Common back-pain drug may be linked to higher dementia risk, large study finds -

A pain medication that millions of Americans rely on for chronic back pain may come with a hidden risk: a significantly higher chance of developing dementia or other cognitive problems, according to a major new study.

Compared 26,000 adults

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and several partner institutions analyzed medical records from 68 health systems across the U.S., comparing 26,414 adults prescribed gabapentin for persistent low-back pain with a matched group who had similar pain — but didn’t take the drug.

Their finding was sobering: Adults who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 85% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within 10 years.

The risk wasn’t limited to older adults. In fact, it was younger Americans who saw the most dramatic increases.

Younger adults saw shocking risk increases

For people normally considered decades away from dementia:

Ages 35–49 taking gabapentin had more than double the risk of dementia.
Their risk of MCI more than tripled.
Adults 50–64 saw similarly elevated risks.
Only those 18–34 showed no increased risk.

Researchers published their results in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine and didn’t mince words: “Our results support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline.”

More prescriptions = more risk

Like any medication, gabapentin can cause side effects. Some of the more common ones include feeling dizzy, unusually tired, experiencing swelling from fluid retention, and having a dry mouth. Earlier research has also linked gabapentin use to potential breathing problems.

However, the study from Case Western Reserve University found a clear pattern: the more gabapentin someone took, the greater the cognitive risks.