A recent U.S. study has linked the commonly prescribed drug gabapentin—used to treat nerve and back pain—to a significantly higher risk of dementia. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University analyzed medical records of over 26,000 Americans treated with gabapentin for chronic low back pain between 2004 and 2024.
They found that patients who had been prescribed gabapentin six or more times had a 29% higher risk of developing dementia and an 85% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). For those receiving 12 or more prescriptions, the risk jumped to 40% for dementia and 65% for MCI. People aged 35–49 were especially affected, while no increased risk was seen in those aged 18–34.
Gabapentin, marketed as Neurontin, targets GABA, a brain chemical that calms nerve activity. While originally approved for epilepsy, it’s now widely used for nerve and back pain. In the U.S., nearly 8 million prescriptions are issued annually.
However, the study only shows a correlation—not causation. Experts caution that factors like low physical activity in chronic pain patients may contribute to the cognitive decline. Gabapentin dosage and treatment duration weren’t recorded in the study.