The Link Between Anti-Anxiety Medication And Alzheimer's

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A recent study has show that certain anti-anxiety medications can actually increase the risk of Alzheimer's in older patients.

The University of Bordeaux in France has found that habitual use of benzodiazepines for extended periods of time could significantly up the odds of an elderly person getting Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia that causes the gradual decline of memory, thinking abilities, and language skills, all of which have the potential to be traumatic to both the sufferer and his or her family.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the average remaining lifespan after onset is eight to ten years, but some sufferers have lived as long as 25 years.

The aforementioned French study suggests that drugs such as Xanax, Valium, and Ativan, when used consistently for over three months, increases the risk for the disease. Still, at this time there is only an association between the two factors, and the researchers cannot yet definitively say that the medications ‘cause' Alzheimer's.

But Aren't These Medications?

It is true that benzodiazepines can help those suffering from anxiety, but The Committee on the Review of Medicines (CRM) has found that, “most sedative hypnotics (including benzodiazepines) tend to lose their sleep-promoting properties within three to 14 days of continuous use.”

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Furthermore, the CRM also found that there is “little convincing evidence that benzodiazepines were efficacious in the treatment of anxiety after four months' continuous treatment.”

It seems that using these drugs continuously longer than three or four months has limited potential benefits, but a possible downside of an increased risk of Alzheimer's. The American Geriatric Society has also listed benzodiazepines as inappropriate for the treatment of insomnia, due to the potential for cognitive impairment.

What Are The Alternatives?

Repeated use of benzodiazepines can cause anyone to form a dependency, and at best this will result in mild memory impairment, while at worst dependency will cause full-blown dementia. Furthermore, it is not only this class of drugs that should cause concern in older patients.

Research suggests that any medication that affects mental state (sleeping pills, antihistamines) should be treated with caution.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy using techniques such as relaxation training and sleep environment improvement can help those suffering from insomnia, regardless of age. As for anxiety disorders, antidepressants may be prescribed, and psychotherapy may be a useful non-drug solution.

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Posted In: Health CareGeneralAnti-anxiety
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