New Study Links Frequent Gabapentin Use to Higher Risk for Cognitive Impairment
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine published a retrospective cohort study that examined a national database of patient records from 2004-2024, assessing 10-year outcomes across 26,416 adults who were prescribed gabapentin for low back pain to see what percentage developed dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Patients who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions had an 85% greater risk of MCI and a 29% greater risk of dementia. Risks of cognitive impairment increased further with prescription frequency. Patients with 12 or more prescriptions had a higher incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment than those prescribed gabapentin 3–11 times. Across non-elderly adults, those prescribed gabapentin had over twice the risk of dementia and MCI compared to those not prescribed gabapentin. Adults aged 35-69 saw a doubled risk of dementia and MCI with six or more gabapentin prescriptions.
