Common back-pain drug may be linked to higher dementia risk, large study finds

Adults who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were found to be 29% more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis within a 10-year period. More notably, they were 85% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — a condition characterized by noticeable but not yet severe changes in memory and thinking that can often be an early indicator of dementia.

These are significant numbers, and researchers were transparent about their implications. Their published conclusion called for “close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline.”

Younger Adults Face Surprisingly High Risks
One of the most unexpected findings of the study was that the elevated risk was not limited to older adults — the age group most commonly associated with dementia. In fact, the data suggested that middle-aged adults may face some of the most dramatic increases in cognitive risk.

Among adults between the ages of 35 and 49 who were taking gabapentin, the risk of developing dementia was more than double that of their peers who weren’t taking the medication. Even more striking, their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment was found to be more than three times higher.

Adults between the ages of 50 and 64 also showed significantly elevated risks across both categories. Only the youngest group studied — those between 18 and 34 — showed no meaningful increase in cognitive risk.

This finding challenges the common assumption that cognitive decline is primarily a concern for people in their 70s and beyond. The data suggests that if a link between gabapentin and cognitive health does exist, it may be most relevant for working-age adults who take the medication over long periods.

The More Prescriptions, the Higher the Risk
Dementia: Prolonged gabapentin use for pain may heighten risk

The study also revealed what researchers describe as a dose-response pattern — meaning that the more gabapentin a person was prescribed, the stronger the association with cognitive decline.

Among participants who received 12 or more prescriptions, the risk of developing dementia rose to 40% higher than the comparison group, while the risk of mild cognitive impairment climbed to 65% higher. These elevated risks persisted even after researchers accounted for other variables including existing health conditions, demographic differences, and other medications the participants may have been taking.