By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Popular back pain medication linked to brain health risks in some patients
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Popular back pain medication linked to brain health risks in some patients
News

Popular back pain medication linked to brain health risks in some patients

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: July 12, 2025 1:42 pm
Jimmie Dempsey Published July 12, 2025
Share
SHARE

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A painkiller used for lower back pain could be linked to a higher risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to new research.

The study, published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, found that groups previously considered too young to develop the conditions faced more than twice the risk when taking gabapentin.

“Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years,” the research team stated in a press release.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS MAY HAVE LOWER RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, STUDY FINDS

The drug has become increasingly popular for treating chronic pain, especially neuropathic (nerve) pain, the researchers noted in a press release.

Gabapentin — which is also used to control seizures, according to Cleveland Clinic — has relatively low addictive potential compared to traditional opioids.

Recent research has sparked new concerns over its side effects, including a possible association with neurodegeneration.

Previous findings could not confirm a specific link, especially regarding whether certain age groups are more vulnerable.

In the latest study, researchers collected data from TriNetX, a health research network containing electronic health records from 68 healthcare organizations across the U.S.

MORE SENIORS ARE USING CANNABIS THAN EVER BEFORE DESPITE HEALTH RISKS, RESEARCH SHOWS

Examining anonymous records of adult patients, the team looked at groups who had been prescribed gabapentin for chronic lower back pain between 2004 and 2024 and compared them to people who hadn’t received the drug. There were a total of 26,414 individuals in each group.

The researchers accounted for factors like demographics, co-existing conditions and the use of other pain-relieving drugs.

Photo of young woman spending time with her old father, give him some medicine at home

Patients who had received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 85% more likely to be diagnosed with MCI within 10 years of their initial pain diagnosis, the study found.

Looking at specific age groups, people between 18 and 64 years old who received the drug were more than twice as likely to develop either condition than those who hadn’t been prescribed gabapentin.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

While there was no heightened risk among those aged 18 to 34 who were prescribed the drug, the risk of dementia more than doubled (and the risk of MCI more than tripled) among 35- to 49-year-olds.

Researchers observed a similar pattern among 50- to 64-year-olds.

Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks

Risks rose with prescription frequency: Patients with 12 or more prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia and 65% more likely to develop MCI than those who were prescribed gabapentin between three and 11 times. 

“Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years.”

The study did have some limitations. As this was an observational study, no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, the researchers noted.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

They also acknowledged that because the study was retrospective, they couldn’t account for dose or length of gabapentin use.

The results “support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline,” the researchers added.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Angels’ Zach Neto snares Shohei Ohtani’s liner to start incredible triple play

Trump commutes sentence of major political donor in latest round of clemency

Sparks fly as Cuomo, Mamdani tear into each other during fiery debate: ‘Toxic energy’

Karen Read’s SUV reached ‘74% throttle’ moments before John O’Keefe’s final movements, crash expert testifies

Public school teacher reveals years-long effort to expose alleged student abortion scandal

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Travis Kelce ties Chiefs’ touchdown mark as Kansas City puts on show in win
News

Travis Kelce ties Chiefs’ touchdown mark as Kansas City puts on show in win

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 28, 2025
Hannity announces he will host town hall with GOP New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli
NHL fan falls from upper concourse during Penguins game
Man who went viral for heckling Winsome Sears with racist comment dealt another blow after getting fired
ICE leadership shakeup exposes growing DHS friction over deportation tactics, priorities
Airman found dead in Wyoming was under investigation in fatal shooting
Indiana trans student admits to plotting Valentine’s Day school shooting, kept ‘shrine’ to mass killers
News

Indiana trans student admits to plotting Valentine’s Day school shooting, kept ‘shrine’ to mass killers

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 28, 2025
Navy evacuates nearly 900 from Cuba as Hurricane Melissa approaches
Tactical

Navy evacuates nearly 900 from Cuba as Hurricane Melissa approaches

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 27, 2025
Recognizing the Roots of the Current US Political Turmoil
Prepping & Survival

Recognizing the Roots of the Current US Political Turmoil

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 27, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?