Sleeping pills have a hand in dementia

Sleeping pills have a hand in dementia

Many of us take sleep medications on a regular basis to get enough rest, but it's a concern that what you're taking may make you more likely to develop symptoms associated with ongoing cognitive decline (dementia).

A new study reveals that regularly taking sleeping pills can increase your risk by a whopping 79%.

The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, found that white people had a higher risk of dementia when taking sleep medications, according to the Express newspaper.

High risk

The research team explained that the type and amount of medication may be a factor in explaining this higher risk.

They reached their findings by looking at about 3000 elderly people without dementia who lived outside nursing homes.

This group was enrolled in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study and followed for an average of nine years.

About 42% of these participants were black and 58% white. During the study period, 20% of patients went on to develop dementia.

higher chance

The results indicated that white participants who "often" or "always" took sleep medications had a 79% higher chance of developing dementia, compared to those who "never" or "rarely" used them.

Among the black participants - who consumed significantly less sleep aids - frequent use was also associated with a higher risk.

Study author Yu Ling said: “The differences can be attributed to socioeconomic status. Black participants who have access to sleep medication may be a select group with a higher socioeconomic status and therefore have a greater cognitive reserve, making them less likely to develop dementia. It is also possible that some sleep medications may be associated with a higher risk of dementia than others.

He also said that patients who suffer from a lack of sleep should hesitate before considering medication.

three times more likely

The research found that white people were three times more likely to take sleeping pills more often.

This included anything from prescription medications for chronic insomnia to "Z drugs" like Ambien.

The research team now hopes that additional studies will help clarify the cognitive risks or rewards of sleep medications and the role that race may play.

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