{"id":599,"date":"2025-12-23T05:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T05:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/?p=599"},"modified":"2025-12-23T05:43:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T05:43:56","slug":"common-back-pain-drug-may-be-linked-to-higher-dementia-risk-large-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/?p=599","title":{"rendered":"Common back-pain drug may be linked to higher dementia risk, large study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

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.<\/p>\n

Compared 26,000 adults<\/b><\/p>\n

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 \u2014 but didn\u2019t take the drug.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The risk wasn\u2019t limited to older adults. In fact, it was younger Americans who saw the most dramatic increases.<\/p>\n

Younger adults saw shocking risk increases<\/p>\n

For people normally considered decades away from dementia:<\/p>\n

Ages 35\u201349 taking gabapentin had more than double the risk of dementia.<\/p>\n

Their risk of MCI more than tripled.<\/p>\n

Adults 50\u201364 saw similarly elevated risks.<\/p>\n

Only those 18\u201334 showed no increased risk.<\/p>\n

Researchers published their results in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine and didn\u2019t mince words: \u201cOur results support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline.\u201d<\/p>\n

More prescriptions = more risk<\/b><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

However, the study from Case Western Reserve University found a clear pattern: the more gabapentin someone took, the greater the cognitive risks.<\/p>\n

Those with 12+ prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia.<\/p>\n

They were 65% more likely to develop MCI.<\/p>\n

This held true even after accounting for health conditions, demographics, and other medications.<\/p>\n

But does gabapentin cause dementia?<\/b><\/p>\n

Not necessarily. The researchers were careful to note this was an observational study, meaning it shows a strong association \u2014 not proof of direct cause.<\/p>\n

They also couldn\u2019t analyze exact dosage or duration.<\/p>\n

Still, the dataset was huge, and the findings aligned with other emerging concerns about gabapentin\u2019s side effects.<\/p>\n

Why gabapentin use has skyrocketed<\/b><\/p>\n

Gabapentin has been around since the early \u201990s, originally approved to treat epilepsy. Over the years, doctors have increasingly turned to it for chronic pain, nerve pain, post-shingles pain, and restless legs syndrome because it\u2019s seen as a safer alternative to opioids.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s often prescribed long-term for back pain, even though researchers note that many patients receiving it may also struggle with mobility \u2014 another known dementia risk factor.<\/p>\n

But in this study, gabapentin users were matched with similarly limited patients who didn\u2019t take the drug, suggesting mobility alone doesn\u2019t explain the cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

What this means for patients<\/b><\/p>\n

The takeaway isn\u2019t to panic, but to be informed.<\/p>\n

If you or a loved one is taking gabapentin for back pain, experts say the study reinforces the importance of:<\/p>\n

Regular cognitive check-ins<\/b><\/p>\n

Talking with your doctor about risks and alternatives<\/p>\n

Avoiding unnecessary long-term use when possible<\/p>\n

Gabapentin is still considered safer than many pain medications, but awareness matters.<\/p>\n

As the researchers conclude, \u201cOur findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0 After a long day, there\u2019s something incredibly soothing about stepping into a warm shower, letting the water wash away your fatigue. But what if your beloved soaks are causing more harm than good? According to growing research and expert opinion, bathing too often could actually \u201cbe bad for your health,\u201d messing with your immune system, and even putting stress on your body\u2019s natural ability to regulate temperature. It turns out, that squeaky-clean feeling may come at a cost. Natural oils The human skin isn\u2019t just a passive layer of tissue \u2013 it\u2019s your body\u2019s largest organ and one of its smartest. It produces natural oils to keep itself moisturized and forms a barrier of good bacteria to fend off harmful invaders. But when you shower too frequently, especially with hot water and harsh soaps, you strip away these essential oils. The result isn\u2019t just dryness \u2013 it\u2019s often a cycle of itching, redness, flaking, and irritation. \u201cNormal skin has a protective layer of oil and a balance of…<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0 He grew up in a small Indiana town, yet somehow ended up becoming the world-famous frontman of one of rock history\u2019s most iconic bands. The journey there is almost unbelievable \u2014 especially considering the world he came from. As a young boy, he was raised to believe women were \u201cevil,\u201d taught that violence at home was normal, and lived through trauma most kids could never imagine. His father was murdered An incredible, wide-ranging, powerhouse voice. Hailed as the greatest singer ever. One of the top-selling artists in music history. A Hall of Fame inductee. A kid from the Midwest who pushed past the strict, closed-in \u201ccorn belt\u201d rules he\u2019d been raised under, determined to prove they didn\u2019t define him. Born in Lafayette, Indiana, this future stage legend entered the world on a February day in 1962 and was given the name William. His mother was just 16 when she gave birth to William, and his father was 20. Later, his father would be described as \u201ca troubled and charismatic local de…<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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, … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=599"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":617,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599\/revisions\/617"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raviral.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}