Study title and authors:
Benzodiazepine use and risk of dementia: prospective population based study
Sophie Billioti de Gage, Bernard Bégaud, Fabienne Bazin, Hélène Verdoux, Jean-François Dartigues, Karine Pérès, Tobias Kurth, Antoine Pariente.
This study can be accessed at: http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e6231.pdf%2Bhtml
The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between the use of benzodiazepines and dementia. The study included 1,063 men and women, average age 78 years, who were followed for 15 years.
The list below shows some of the different generic and brand names of benzodiazepines.
The study found that users of benzodiazepines had a 60% increased risk of dementia compared to non-users.
Benzodiazepines are a group of medications which have been used since the 1960s to treat anxiety, epileptic seizures, mania, alcohol withdrawal and sleeping problems.
- diazepam - Valium, Ducene, Antenex
- oxazepam - Serepax, Murelax, Alepam
- nitrazepam - Mogadon, Alodorm
- temazepam - Euhypnos, Normison, Temaze
- lorazepam - Ativan
- flunitrazepam - Rohypnol, Hypnodorm
- bromazepam - Lexotan
- clonazepam - Rivotril
The study found that users of benzodiazepines had a 60% increased risk of dementia compared to non-users.
