Case Western University recently revealed shocking news about the Gabapentin painkiller. If you don’t know about this medicine, then I want to tell you that this is a common medicine or drug, which is used as a painkiller for nerve pain and epilepsy. Case Western recently concluded that it’s an increased risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Before we dive deep into this case study, let us know some details about Gabapentin.

What is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is the most common anti-seizure painkiller Medicine primarily used to treat nerve pain, epilepsy following shingles and also for restless legs syndrome. It works by slowly slowing down all the massages and changing the way the brain talks to the nerves. 

Gabapentin has some side effects like other medications such as a feeling of a sleepy mood, dizzy feeling, may be feeling sick with nausea or headache. Managing these kinds of side effects is not too hard, in fact it’s easy with all the right instructions. But a recent study of Case Western University concluded and revealed that Gabapentin may have one biggest side effect that is harmful for long term problems. It’s more serious than we previously knew.

What Researchers Tell About Gabapentin?

Researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland recently concluded after the study and they found that when anyone takes a Gabapentin tablet for a long term time period at that time they can suffer with lower back pain. This pain is very harmful and it increases the risk of dementia and mild memory problems.

This case Western University Researching 10 years on Gabapentin and after 10 years of Experience, they said that “ Our results show a link between taking the Gabapentin drug and developing dementia. In this case study of Gabapentin, the person where prescribed Gabapentin, the higher their risk of getting memory issues or memory loss problems or suffering from dementia. This 10-year study of Gabapentin was published in the journal Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

Is Gabapentin the main reason for dementia?

To whole this study. Researchers collected the medical report of more than 26,400 patients who were taking a Gabapentin tablet for long term lower back pain problems between 2024-2024 and 26,400 people or patients who had not taken Gabapentin.

These studies help them to compare both groups to conclude that Gabapentin is really risky or any link with high risk of dementia or memory issues.

After checking both differentiating factors such as patient past medical history, demographics, and using many other drugs or painkillers, the researchers of Case Western University concluded and revealed that those people who have received 6 or more Gabapentin painkiller prescriptions they are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia D’se.

Summary of the Study 

The study found that among subjects who received gabapentin, the risk of dementia was increased when compared to controls, and mild cognitive impairment was also increased. Specifically: 

• That same population was advised to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) 85% more often in the ten years following their back pain diagnosis.

• The 35- to 49-year-old population had more than double the risk of developing dementia who were prescribed gabapentin, and more than triple the risk of developing MCI. 

• In looking at frequency of use, people with 12 or more prescriptions had 40% and 65% higher risk of developing dementia and MCI respectively.

Study Limitations

While the study’s results are worrying, the authors were clear that their study was observational and so they cannot clearly say that gabapentin was the cause of greater dementia risk and, also, that they were not able to accurately document gabapentin dose or duration of use in their records review.

Expert Perspectives

Other medical professionals are cautious not to over-interpret the findings. Tara Spires-Jones, the director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, stressed that the study cannot establish that gabapentin was the cause of increased dementia risk, and also suggested that activity levels should be considered since it is known to be a risk factor for dementia.

Dementia Risk Factors

Other known risk factors for dementia include:

– Traumatic brain injury

– Untreated hearing loss

– Depression

– Hypertension

– Diabetes

– Obesity

– History of smoking.

Reducing Dementia Risk

Experts recommend reducing the risks of dementia by adopting a healthier diet, engaging in exercise or physical activity, involving oneself in social activity, avoiding cigarettes, and restricting and/or limiting excessive alcohol use.

Conclusion

While the results of the study are inconclusive, it suggests that gabapentin may be correlated with an increased risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Further research is needed to clarify the link between gabapentin and dementia risk. For now, we may need to closely monitor adult patients on gabapentin for cognitive decline.

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