For millions of people in the United States, chronic back pain has become a part of everyday life. Many rely on a popular medication for years, believing it to be a relatively safe and proven solution that helps them return to normal routines. But a major new study raises an uncomfortable question: is this “go-to remedy” really as harmless as it seems?
Scientists analyzed the medical records of tens of thousands of Americans — people of different ages but with similar back-pain issues, divided by one important detail: some were taking a widely used drug, while others managed without it. The results prompted researchers to rethink long-held assumptions about a medication many doctors have prescribed almost automatically for years.
In their initial findings, the team avoided naming the drug directly. But the hints were clear: the study focused on one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for chronic lower-back pain. What they discovered over long-term follow-up shocked even seasoned specialists.
Only in the fourth paragraph did the name finally appear: the drug was gabapentin. An analysis of 26,414 patients showed that those who received six or more prescriptions had a 29% higher risk of developing dementia and an 85% higher risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within the next decade.
Even more alarming was another pattern: the increased risk wasn’t limited to older adults. Americans aged 35–49 taking the drug had more than double the risk of dementia, while their likelihood of developing MCI more than tripled. Similar trends were seen in adults aged 50–64, with only the youngest group — ages 18–34 — showing no significant increase.
Researchers also found a clear dose-response relationship: the more prescriptions a patient received, the higher the risk. Those with 12+ prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia and 65% more likely to develop MCI.
The study’s authors emphasized that this was observational research — meaning it couldn’t prove direct causation. But the scale of the dataset — spanning 68 health systems across the U.S. — makes the findings impossible to dismiss.
Gabapentin has been prescribed since the early 1990s. It’s commonly used as a “safer alternative” to opioids for chronic pain, nerve pain, post-shingles discomfort, and even restless legs syndrome. That’s why growing concerns about its potential cognitive impact have sparked intense debate in the medical community.
For patients, the takeaway is clear: don’t panic, but stay vigilant. Experts recommend regular cognitive check-ins, discussing risks and alternatives with your doctor, and avoiding long-term use unless absolutely necessary.
As the study’s authors concluded: “Our results indicate an association between gabapentin prescriptions and the development of dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years.”
And that is a warning the public cannot afford to ignore.
