Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines and Dementia Risk

In Christopher Lane, PhD’s latest article for Psychology Today, he delves deeply into a newly published study that examines the effects of benzodiazepines on brain health. The study, conducted by researchers Hofe I.V., Stricker B.H., Vernooij M.W., et al., and titled Benzodiazepine Use in Relation to Long-Term Dementia Risk and Imaging Markers of Neurodegeneration: A Population-Based Study, provides new insights into how these medications impact cognitive function over extended periods.

According to the study, nearly half of the participants (49.5 percent) had used benzodiazepines at some point over the past 15 years. The researchers followed up with these individuals after an average interval of 11.2 years, discovering that 13.3 percent had developed dementia during this time. Interestingly, the study’s conclusion states, “Overall use of benzodiazepines is not associated with increased dementia risk,” which diverges from the results of several other studies that have suggested a link between benzodiazepine use and heightened dementia risk.

In a separate but related finding, the study highlights that prolonged benzodiazepine use is “significantly associated with lower total brain volume.” This suggests that even if the overall use of benzodiazepines may not be directly linked to increased dementia risk, at least in this study, there may still be significant neurological impacts associated with long-term use.

The researchers conclude:

“In this population-based sample of cognitively healthy adults, overall use of benzodiazepines was not associated with increased dementia risk, but potential class-dependent adverse effects and associations with subclinical markers of neurodegeneration may warrant further investigation.”

This study adds to the ongoing debate about the long-term effects of benzodiazepines on brain health and underscores the need for more research into their potential risks.

For a more detailed analysis, read the Psychology Today article here.

Access the complete study here.