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 liability of dementia and mild cognitive impairment MCI according to new research The research published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia Pain Medicine ascertained that groups previously considered too young to develop the conditions faced more than twice the danger when taking gabapentin Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within years the research company stated in a press release BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS MAY HAVE LOWER PITFALL OF GROWING ALZHEIMER'S SYNDROME INVESTIGATION 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 prospective compared to traditional opioids Modern research has sparked new concerns over its side effects including a feasible association with neurodegeneration Previous findings could not confirm a specific link especially regarding whether certain age groups are more vulnerable In the latest examination researchers collected evidence from TriNetX a soundness research configuration containing electronic vitality 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 determination the survey revealed 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 MEDICAL NEWSLETTERWhile there was no heightened jeopardy among those aged to who were prescribed the drug the liability of dementia more than doubled and the vulnerability 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 scrutiny did have specific limitations As this was an observational review 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 examination was retrospective they couldn t account for dose or length of gabapentin use The results backing the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for feasible cognitive decline the researchers added