Use of Benzo Sedatives Like Valium, Xanax Wont Raise Dementia Risk: Study [Video]

Key Takeaways

Benzodiazepines do not appear to be linked to dementia risk, a new study saysHowever, the drugs do appear tied to shrinking of certain brain regionsThe results support guidelines cautioning against long-term benzodiazepine prescription, researchers said

TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Benzodiazepines do not appear to increase dementia risk, but could have subtle long-term effects on brain structure, a new study reports.

Researchers found no link between use of the sedative drug and a higher risk of dementia in a group of more than 5,400 adults in the Netherlands, according to findings published July 2 in the journal BMC Medicine.

That runs counter to two previous meta-analyses reporting increased dementia risk with benzodiazepine use, researchers noted.

However, brain MRI scans taken of more than 4,800 participants revealed that benzodiazepine use is associated with accelerated shrinking of some brain regions, results show.

The findings “support current guidelines cautioning against long-term benzodiazepine prescription,” …