Study Shows Link Between Use of Benzodiazepines and Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

A study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica found the use of benzodiazepines and related drugs (Z drugs) was associated with a modestly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, which was similar irrespective of the drugs' half-life, reports News-Medical . Included in the study cohort were all Finnish community dwellers with newly diagnosed Alzheimer's in 2005-2011 and their age, sex, and region of residence matched controls. Medicine use since 1995 was taken from the Finnish Prescription Register. Many chronic disorders, substance abuse, socioeconomical position, and use of antidepressants and antipsychotics were accounted for. Drug use within five years before Alzheimer's disease diagnosis was not taken into account so reverse causality was covered. Although the higher risk for Alzheimer's was small in this study, the threshold for prescribing benzodiazepines and related drugs should be sufficiently high because of several adverse effects and events, such as falls. These medications are commonly administered for sleep problems, but their effectiveness for this indication diminishes over weeks or months. However, the risk of adverse events remains in longer-term use.