Benzodiazepine use may modestly increase the odds your residents will get Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.
Such medications often are taken by older people to treat anxiety and insomnia. They work by increasing the effect of a brain chemical called gamma amino butyric acid. This increase affects brain activity in the areas of rational thought, memory and emotions. Benzodiazepine also can slow breathing, which leads to sedation, muscle relaxation and reduced anxiety.
The Finnish study included more than 353,500 participants. Full findings appear in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
