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Link Between Benzodiazepines and Dementia May Have Been Overstated


For over a decade, medical research has hinted at a connection between long-term benzodiazepine exposure and the increased risk of developing dementia. This has been of grave concern for many, especially those who have taken these medications as prescribed by their physicians.


A "BestLife" article from September 13, 2025 claims that new studies dispute this association. According to research from the Alzheimer's Association in 2022 and ScienceDirect in 2025, there may have been "little evidence of a causal relationship." The ScienceDirect study suggested that the association may be due to "higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety among users.”


“In conclusion, our findings revealed limited evidence of a link between benzodiazepine use and dementia risk, and more research is required to determine a causal connection.” — Wu et al, "Benzodiazepine Use and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly Population." 20254



What Does This Mean?


This should be encouraging news for many who struggle with the long term complications of benzodiazepine use. Still, as with any new findings, caution is advised. Here are my thoughts.


First off, the last thing I want to do is rain on anyone's parade here. This is good news and we have a right to soak that in. These recent studies point toward a less definitive link between benzodiazepines and dementia, that that is a good thing. Still, as the authors of the ScienceDirect article stated, "more research is required." Nothing here is definitive. We need more research, plain and simple.


Second, even if benzodiazepines don't directly increase the risk of dementia, it is still possible that the long-term effects of benzos such as benzodiazepine induced neurological dysfunction (BIND), and its related neurological symptoms, may contribute to overall cognitive decline, and thus, dementia.


And third, as with most studies, there are other severe and long-lasting complications from benzodiazepines that are rarely discussed in the media or in research. As we discovered with our recently published scoping review, "Long-term neurological consequences following benzodiazepine exposure: A scoping review," few research studies followed patients long enough, or know what symptoms to look for, when analyzing the complication of long-term benzodiazepine use.


I am grateful that this article did close out with warnings about the dangers and possibilities of addiction, but unfortunately, there was zero information about dependence or BIND.


We still have our work cut out for us.



Conclusion


In summary, I am encouraged that the direct relationship between benzodiazepines and dementia may not be as strong as we first assumed. Still, I am concerned that this article and recent studies are inconclusive, and even more so, that it may send the message that benzodiazepines are relatively safe.


These drugs cause life-altering neurological complications in a substantive sub-population of patients. The evidence is solid on that and recognized by the FDA, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and many other medical organizations.


While I welcome positive news about long-term effects, I only hope that these articles do not lead to increased prescribing. That would be a very bad thing.



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