A commonly prescribed pain medication—gabapentin—often considered a safer alternative to opioids for those who suffer from low back pain is now under scrutiny after being linked to increased risks of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
According to a large-scale observational study published in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, patients who received frequent gabapentin prescriptions were significantly more likely to develop dementia and/or MCI.
Researchers analyzed anonymized medical records from tens of thousands of Americans sourced from TriNetX, a federated health research network with electronic health records from 68 healthcare organizations across the country.
They found that patients whom had received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29 percent more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 85 percent more likely to be diagnosed with MCI within 10 years of their initial pain diagnosis.
Surprisingly, risks were higher among those who are usually considered too young to be affected by these conditions.
While no increased risk was found in users aged 18 to 34, for those aged 35 to 49, dementia risk more than doubled, and MCI risk more than tripled. A similar risk pattern was observed among 50–64 year olds.
Prescription frequency also played a main role, regardless of the patient’s age. Those with 12 or more gabapentin prescriptions were 40 percent more likely to develop dementia and 65 percent more likely to develop MCI, compared to those with 3 to 11 prescriptions.