Benzodiazepine use and risk of dementia: evidence from the Caerphilly Prospective Study (CaPS).
BACKGROUND
Benzodiazepine use is widespread in older people, although its benefit is uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term effect of benzodiazepine use upon dementia risk.


METHODS
A prospective cohort of men seen on five occasions over 22 years with full medication histories, repeat measures of cognitive function and a clinical diagnosis of dementia.


RESULTS
Of 1134 men with complete data, 103 (9.1%) had been taking benzodiazepines regularly at one or more phases. These men showed a marked increased incidence of dementia (OR=3.50, 95% CI 1.57 to 7.79, p=0.002), which persisted despite adjustment for psychological distress and other covariates. Men exposed in earlier phases showed a greater association than more recent exposure, counter to what one would expect if this was due to reverse causation, though we failed to demonstrate a dose-response effect with drug duration.


CONCLUSIONS
The taking of benzodiazepines is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. gallacher@cf.ac.uk
John
J
Gallacher
Peter
P
Elwood
Janet
J
Pickering
Antony
A
Bayer
Mark
M
Fish
Yoav
Y
Ben-Shlomo
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
D001569:Benzodiazepines