Study Finds Link Between Gabapentin Use for Chronic Back Pain and Increased Dementia Risk

Reviewing the medical records of patients who were prescribed gabapentin, researchers have found that those using the drug had a higher likelihood of later being diagnosed with dementia compared to those who weren’t taking it.

Although this study does not prove that gabapentin directly causes dementia, the observed correlation raises concerns about the drug’s long-term cognitive effects. Gabapentin is widely used to manage nerve pain, but this research adds to growing concerns about its safety, suggesting that more studies are needed to understand how it might influence brain health over time.

To read how a recent study found that people living with chronic pain had lower levels of key micronutrients than people without pain, see this article on our website.