Is Your Pain Medication Clouding Your Future?

As someone deeply invested in helping people make informed medical decisions, this study grabbed my attention. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is commonly prescribed for chronic pain, but could it be increasing the risk of dementia?

This July 2025 study by Eghrari, published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management, examined the long-term cognitive risks of gabapentin in adults with chronic lower back pain. Researchers found that patients who refilled gabapentin prescriptions had a 29% higher risk of developing dementia and an 85% higher risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). While gabapentin use and increased dementia may be correlated, rather than gabapentin causing dementia, it's good to be aware of the relationship.

Learn more: https://rapm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/02/rapm-2025-106577