Posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2016, at 10:28:37
In reply to Benzodiazepines: No Dementia Risk?, posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2016, at 10:26:03
edscape Medical News > Psychiatry
Benzodiazepines: No Dementia Risk?
Pauline Anderson
February 03, 2016
1 commentContrary to previous research, a new study suggests that benzodiazepines do not to raise the risk for dementia. However, experts caution that these medications should still be avoided in older patients because of the risk for falls and confusion.
Investigators, led by Shelly Gray, PharmD, professor and vice chair, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington School of Pharmacy, in Seattle, found that dementia risk was slightly higher in older patients who had minimal exposure to benzodiazepines over a 10-year period. Surprisingly, higher levels of exposure were not associated with more rapid cognitive decline.
Although the study does not support a causal relationship between cumulative benzodiazepine use and dementia risk, it is not a green light to change prescribing habits, said Dr Gray.
Dr Shelly Gray
"Our study suggests that benzodiazepines may not cause dementia after all, but we still advise health professionals to avoid prescribing these medications in older people because of other adverse events, such as the increased risk for confusion or delirium, falls, car accidents, and other injuries."The study was published online February 2 in the BMJ.
Novel Findings
The analysis included 3434 participants in the Seattle area who were initially without dementia. The median age of the participants was 74 years. They had been members of Group Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system in the northwest United States, for at least 10 years.
To screen for cognitive impairment, researchers used the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). Scores on the CASI range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better performance. If the study participants' scores fell below a certain threshold, they underwent a thorough neuropsychiatric and medical evaluation. Experts used standard DSM-4 criteria to diagnose dementia.
The researchers ascertained patterns of exposure to benzodiazepines from Group Health's computerized pharmacy data. They selected a 10-year window and calculated a cumulative total standardized daily dose (TSDD), which reflected both dose and duration of prescriptions. Continue Reading
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