Interesting article

blacksparky

After reading this, I truly believe that Gabapentin caused my DW’s EOAD. She was taking this prescription for her lower back pain caused by a car accident many years ago.
Chronic and interventional painRisk of dementia following gabapentin prescription in chronic low back pain patients

1. http://orcid.org/0009-0000-8595-3342 Nafis B Eghrari1,2, 
2. Isabella H Yazji1, 
3. Bryan Yavari2, 
4. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9353-2417 Gustaf M Van Acker3 and 
5. Chong H Kim3
6. Correspondence to Nafis B Eghrari; nbe8@case .edu

Abstract

Introduction Gabapentin is widely used to treat chronic pain, but its association with cognitive decline and dementia remains unclear. This study examined whether gabapentin prescription is associated with dementia in adults with chronic low back pain.

Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX national database of de-identified patient records from 2004 to 2024. Adults diagnosed with chronic low back pain were included; those with prior gabapentin use, dementia, epilepsy, stroke, or cancer were excluded. Propensity score matching controlled for demographics, comorbidities, and pain medications. Patients were stratified by age and gabapentin prescription frequency. Primary outcomes were dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Results 26,416 adults we analyzed following propensity-score matching. Patients with six or more gabapentin prescriptions had an increased incidence of dementia (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.18–1.40) and mild cognitive impairment (RR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.63–2.10). When stratified by age, non-elderly adults (18–64) prescribed gabapentin had over twice the risk of dementia (RR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.75–2.51) and mild cognitive impairment (RR: 2.50; 95% CI: 2.04–3.05) compared to those not prescribed gabapentin. Risk increased further with prescription frequency: patients with 12 or more prescriptions had a higher incidence of dementia (RR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.25–1.57) and mild cognitive impairment (RR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.42–1.91) than those prescribed gabapentin 3–11 times.

Conclusions Gabapentin prescription in adults with chronic low back pain is associated with increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, particularly in non-elderly adults. Physicians should monitor cognitive outcomes in patients prescribed gabapentin.

Data availability statement

Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-2025-106577

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Dio

Sadly, nobody truly knows what causes dementia. There can be so many things that are speculated upon. My DH thinks it was the COVID vaccine, but I got the same one and so far it hasn't affected me, knock on wood. Even meds have paradoxical effects on different recipients. Why some work on certain people while not on others? Nobody knows. It's been a guessing game when it comes to dementia management.

Michele P

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/74823/interesting-article

Thank you for sharing this information. I was also on this drug, short term, for back pain. It impacted my cognitive function at the lowest dose and did nothing for the pain. When we were in the HABIT Program at Mayo Clinic, we were given a list of medications to avoid because they cause cognitive impairment. Any medication with PM such as Tylenol PM should be avoided along with Benadryl.

Vitruvius

My DW was diagnosed with a rare dementia, Semantic Dementia, and the few studies done on it indicate that it has little if any genetic component to it. So like I you I read many studies on what could possibly be the cause of her dementia. In the process I repeatedly came across medical studies that indicated various common drugs had the potential to significantly increase a person’s risk of dementia. I had also read about the risk of Gabapentin, but my DW did not take this. However, another drug class, that of anticholinergic drugs, is also strongly indicated in a number of studies to increase dementia risk. Unfortunately many of these studies are fairly recent and doctors are often not up to date on their findings and so they continue to prescribe discredited medications for which safer alternatives exist.

So I also strongly suspect this is the cause of her dementia. My DW has scoliosis that caused pain and was prescribed a muscle relaxant in this drug class. I suspect the doctor was unaware or dismissive of the risks, and my DW has paid the price. I know this can sound a bit like grasping at straws, but the number of respectable studies showing a correlation between the use of certain medications and dementia is compelling.