Dementia warning as drug taken by millions raises risk of memory robbing disorder by up to 40%, study finds

According to recent U.S. research, a commonly prescribed drug used to treat nerve-related disorders and lower back pain may be associated with a markedly elevated risk of dementia.

Since the NHS approved gabapentin in the early 1990s, the medication—often marketed under the brand name Neurontin—has been used to treat epilepsy and chronic pain.

But according to a study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, long-term use may cause cognitive deterioration in certain people.

The study, which examined data from over 26,000 Americans who received gabapentin prescriptions for persistent lower back pain between 2004 and 2024, discovered a significant relationship between the number of prescriptions and subsequent dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis.

In particular, the likelihood of receiving a dementia diagnosis within ten years was 29 percent higher for those who had taken the medication six or more times.

For those who filled twelve or more prescriptions, the risk increased to 40%.

With an 85 percent chance among people with six or more medications, the risk rise was much greater for MCI, a disorder that can occur before dementia.

It’s interesting to note that younger individuals, ages 18 to 34, did not exhibit the increased risk.

However, the chance of MCI more than tripled and the risk of dementia more than doubled for those between the ages of 35 and 49.

These results imply that gabapentin’s effects on cognition can become more noticeable as patients get older or as their dosages increase over time.

The researchers were cautious to emphasize that their analysis indicates a correlation rather than causality, despite the concerning numbers.

In the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, they reported, “Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years.”

They underlined the significance of keeping an eye on adult patients taking gabapentin, particularly for prolonged periods of time.

Several prominent dementia researchers have criticized the findings and warned against making hasty judgments.

Alzheimer’s Research UK’s head of clinical research, Dr. Leah Mursaleen, admitted that although the study had some advantages, like its big sample size, it also had some significant drawbacks.

“We do not know if the medication is directly causing the higher risk,” she said, adding that the study merely found a correlation between gabapentin prescriptions and moderate cognitive impairment or dementia.

Additionally, she noted that the researchers did not have information on the length of pharmaceutical use or exact dosage levels, two important aspects of comprehending any long-term effects.

Experts have also expressed concern about the possible influence of lifestyle variables.

As a known risk factor for dementia, chronic pain causes people to lead more sedentary lifestyles, according to Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.

“Levels of physical activity are one very important factor that was not examined in this study,” she said.

It’s possible that those who needed gabapentin for chronic pain were less physically active, which is an established risk factor for dementia.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that soothes hyperactive nerve cells, is the mechanism of action of gabapentin, which is produced by the pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer, which is also credited with creating one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Although this soothing effect is helpful in treating seizures and nerve-related discomfort, scientists are now wondering if a long-term impact on brain chemistry could have unexpected adverse consequences.

Nearly 800,000 individuals in England received gabapentin prescriptions in 2023–2024, according to NHS data, a minor decrease from a peak of over 926,000 the year before.

With almost 8 million prescriptions written each year, the medication is still even more common in the US.

At least five patients or their families in the UK have claimed a connection between gabapentin use and later diagnoses of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, according to official reports filed with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

However, these reports may be coincidental and do not prove causation.

These results coincide with larger scientific initiatives to pinpoint and reduce dementia risk factors.

According to a groundbreaking study that was published in The Lancet last year, tackling 14 important lifestyle and health factors—from high cholesterol to vision loss—may be able to prevent almost half of all Alzheimer’s cases.

Smoking, heredity, and a lack of physical activity are other known risk factors.

In the UK, dementia is now the biggest cause of death, taking over 74,000 lives in 2022 alone, and there are already over 982,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease.

As a result, there is a greater need than ever to better understand and prevent cognitive decline.

Experts advise anyone taking gabapentin to speak with their healthcare providers if they have any concerns rather than panicking.

Without medical advice, changing or stopping a medicine can have major repercussions, particularly for people who are taking it to treat severe nerve pain or seizures.

To ascertain if gabapentin is the cause of the elevated risk for dementia or whether the results are a reflection of more general health issues that gabapentin users encounter, more research is required.