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

A painkiller used for lower back pain could be linked to a higher vulnerability of dementia and mild cognitive impairment MCI according to new research The investigation published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia Pain Medicine discovered that groups previously considered too young to develop the conditions faced more than twice the vulnerability when taking gabapentin Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within years the research organization stated in a press release BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS MAY HAVE LOWER THREAT OF PROGRESSING ALZHEIMER'S DISORDER EVALUATION FINDSThe 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 feasible compared to traditional opioids Latest research has sparked new concerns over its side effects including a attainable association with neurodegeneration Previous findings could not confirm a specific link especially regarding whether certain age groups are more vulnerable In the latest research researchers collected records from TriNetX a robustness research configuration containing electronic robustness records from healthcare organizations across the U S MORE SENIORS ARE USING CANNABIS THAN EVER BEFORE DESPITE HEALTHCARE RISKS RESEARCH SHOWSExamining anonymous records of adult patients the unit looked at groups who had been prescribed gabapentin for chronic lower back pain between and and compared them to people who hadn t received the drug There were a total of individuals in each group The researchers accounted for factors like demographics co-existing conditions and the use of other pain-relieving drugs Patients who had received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and more likely to be diagnosed with MCI within years of their initial pain evaluation the scrutiny discovered Looking at specific age groups people between and 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 HEALTHCARE NEWSLETTERWhile there was no heightened peril among those aged to who were prescribed the drug the pitfall of dementia more than doubled and the hazard of MCI more than tripled among - to -year-olds Researchers observed a similar pattern among - to -year-olds Risks rose with prescription frequency Patients with or more prescriptions were more likely to develop dementia and more likely to develop MCI than those who were prescribed gabapentin between three and times The review did have various limitations As this was an observational examination no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect the researchers noted For more Vitality articles visit www foxnews com healthThey also acknowledged that because the survey was retrospective they couldn t account for dose or length of gabapentin use The results aid the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for foreseen cognitive decline the researchers added