According to a major new study, 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.
Compared 26,000 adults
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and many partner institutions analyzed medical records from 68 health systems across the United States, 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 concerning: Adults that 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 was not just limited to older adults. In fact, it was younger American people 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 said: “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 lead to 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.
Still, the study from Case Western Reserve University found a clear pattern: the more gabapentin someone took, the greater the cognitive risks.
People with 12+ prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia.
They were 65% more likely to develop MCI.
This held true even after accounting for health conditions, demographics, and other medications.
But does gabapentin cause dementia?
