07/25/2025
Stop using meds to treat your pain issues...the side effects just aren't worth it!
🧠 Nerve Pain Drug Linked to Increased Dementia Risk
A new large-scale study has uncovered a concerning link between long-term use of gabapentin—a widely prescribed drug for nerve pain—and a heightened risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
🔬 Researchers analyzed medical records from over 26,000 patients and found that those who had six or more prescriptions of gabapentin were:
- 29% more likely to develop dementia
- 85% more likely to experience MCI within 10 years
Strikingly, the highest risk was observed in adults aged 35 to 49, prompting experts to urge closer monitoring of patients’ cognitive health when prescribing gabapentin for extended periods.
💊 Marketed under names like Neurontin, gabapentin has become a popular alternative to opioids for managing chronic nerve pain. But its mode of action—suppressing neural activity—may inadvertently interfere with brain circuits crucial for memory and thinking.
📚 While previous research yielded mixed results, this new study offers stronger evidence due to its robust sample size. Scientists caution that more research is needed to determine if gabapentin directly causes cognitive decline or if it's linked to other underlying factors in chronic pain sufferers.
➡️ If you or someone you know uses gabapentin long-term, talk to your healthcare provider about potential cognitive effects. Regular cognitive assessments may help detect early changes.
Source: Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (2025).
