Do benzodiazepines cause dementia? What the case-control study really found

Claim

BENZOS CAUSE DEMENTIA?

Catch

OBSERVATIONAL

Verdict

A LINK, NOT PROOF

Long-term benzodiazepine use is often linked to dementia. A case-control study in the BMJ (2014) examined 1,796 people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease matched against 7,184 controls, all over 66, using Quebec health insurance records. Ever using benzodiazepines was associated with about 1.5 times higher odds of Alzheimer's disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.36–1.69). The association was stronger with cumulative exposure: no clear link below 91 prescribed daily doses, an odds ratio of 1.32 (95% CI 1.01–1.74) for 91–180 doses, and 1.84 (95% CI 1.62–2.08) for more than 180 doses; long-acting drugs showed a stronger link than short-acting ones.

The catch: this is observational, so it shows an association, not proof that benzodiazepines cause dementia. Anxiety, depression and insomnia — which can be early warning signs of dementia — often precede and prompt benzodiazepine use. Even after adjusting for those, the authors said benzodiazepine use might be an early marker of an underlying condition rather than the cause. If you or a loved one use benzodiazepines long-term, talk to a doctor before changing anything.

SOURCES

1. Billioti de Gage S, Moride Y, Ducruet T, et al. "Benzodiazepine use and risk of Alzheimer's disease: case-control study." BMJ. 2014 Sep 9;349:g5205. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g5205. PMID: 25208536. PMCID: PMC4159609.

For information only, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified health professional before changing your diet, supplements or treatment.