The risks of benzodiazepines and Alzheimer's
Written by:A recent study published in the prestigious scientific journal British Medical Journal (BMJ), links the use of Benzodiazepines (BDZ) with Alzheimer's Neurology .
It is a study in Quebec City, Canada. Such research is called a case-control, ie, two groups of people over 66 are compared. In this case, 1,796 people suffering from Alzheimer analyzed as opposed to 7,184 control cases (people without dementia) and how they were exposed to Benzodiazepines. This type of medicine helps the central nervous system providing sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects.
Study of Alzheimer's treatment
The study was conducted in patients from ten to five years before the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, considering the doses of BDZ and why Prescribed: anxiety, depression or insomnia. After investigation, the results have been really worrying: the chronic use of BDZ is linked with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, regardless of suffering anxiety, depression or insomnia. Moreover, no association was found if fewer than 91 doses of BDZ is taken for less than three months of exposure. Note that the association increases at doses between 91 and 180, with time between three and six months, and ascendiéndola to over 180 degrees, more than six months of operation. Moreover, the association is greater if the half-life (duration of the drug in blood) is long.
Study Results
Importantly, the findings of this study are consistent with other previously conducted. Currently, it is unknown what is the mechanism by which BDZ increase the risk of Alzheimer's. The hypothesis is that reduce cognitive reserve and the time when the Azheimer begins to damage the brain, not available from other neural networks and replacing the damaged.
Therefore, although the BDZ are few effective and clear guidelines drugs, people over 66 should not take BDZ more than three months, because if not grow, between 43 and 51%, the risk of the Alzheimer. If you consume BDZ (tranquilizers) chronically, in our center we have the appropriate human and instrumental equipment for alternatives and try to make it possible to eliminate or reduce their consumption.
