Latest news with #cognitiveimpairment
Fox News
a day ago
- Health
- Fox News
Popular back pain medication linked to brain health risks in some patients
A painkiller used for lower back pain could be linked to a higher risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to new research. The study, published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, found that groups previously considered too young to develop the conditions faced more than twice the risk when taking gabapentin. "Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years," the research team stated in a press release. The drug has become increasingly popular for treating chronic pain, especially neuropathic (nerve) pain, the researchers noted in a press release. Gabapentin — which is also used to control seizures, according to Cleveland Clinic — has relatively low addictive potential compared to traditional opioids. Recent research has sparked new concerns over its side effects, including a possible association with neurodegeneration. Previous findings could not confirm a specific link, especially regarding whether certain age groups are more vulnerable. In the latest study, researchers collected data from TriNetX, a health research network containing electronic health records from 68 healthcare organizations across the U.S. Examining anonymous records of adult patients, the team looked at groups who had been prescribed gabapentin for chronic lower back pain between 2004 and 2024 and compared them to people who hadn't received the drug. There were a total of 26,414 individuals in each group. The researchers accounted for factors like demographics, co-existing conditions and the use of other pain-relieving drugs. Patients who had received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 85% more likely to be diagnosed with MCI within 10 years of their initial pain diagnosis, the study found. Looking at specific age groups, people between 18 and 64 years old who received the drug were more than twice as likely to develop either condition than those who hadn't been prescribed gabapentin. While there was no heightened risk among those aged 18 to 34 who were prescribed the drug, the risk of dementia more than doubled (and the risk of MCI more than tripled) among 35- to 49-year-olds. Researchers observed a similar pattern among 50- to 64-year-olds. Risks rose with prescription frequency: Patients with 12 or more prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia and 65% more likely to develop MCI than those who were prescribed gabapentin between three and 11 times. "Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years." The study did have some limitations. As this was an observational study, no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, the researchers noted. For more Health articles, visit They also acknowledged that because the study was retrospective, they couldn't account for dose or length of gabapentin use. The results "support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline," the researchers added.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Young Democrat wants cognitive tests for aging members of Congress
A young Democrat in the House has proposed a radical idea to deal with Congress' age problem, Axios reports. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) is a two-term Democrat who won a district that Trump won twice - and has heard from voters about the age of lawmakers. 'What I've heard from my neighbors, my community is this idea that this place is being run by a bunch of staffers,' the 36-year-old told Axios. 'And we're seeing a very real decline in confidence in Congress.' In response, Gluesenkamp Perez proposed an amendment to the appropriations bill to that sets aside money for congressional operations to require the Office of Congressional Conduct create a standard to assess members' 'ability to perform the duties of office unimpeded by significant irreversible cognitive impairment.' Such an assessment could lead to investigations into whether a member is mentally incapacitated to the point that their service damages Congress's credibility. The amendment failed to pass during a markup, with subcommittee chairman David Valadao (R-CA) saying 'a lot of concern with some of our colleagues sometimes when we see some of their comments,' but that elections are the proper barometer. But Gluesenkamp Perez told Axios that 'It's not a comfortable thing to think about time being irreversible and how our lives change, but ... real respect for our communities and the body here is [being] willing to have these honest, candid and difficult conversations.' Congress, particularly Democrats, have dealt with questions about whether senior lawmakers can continue to do the job. Last year, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) became the top Democrat on the House Oversight & Accountability Committee and died earlier this year after a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX), a freshman Democrat, died in March shortly after President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress. Turner was 70 and had a history with cancer. In addition, earlier this year, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) died after a long battle with cancer. Grijalva had missed most votes in the House of Representatives last year. Last Congress, the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein died in office at age 89 after she had faced multiple questions about her mental fitness to do the job. Perhaps the most pressing example came when former president Joe Biden had his disastrous sole debate with Trump in June of last year, where he sounded frail, stumbled over his words and often trailed off mid-sentence. Biden, who was 81 at the time, stepped aside less than a month after the debate and his vice president Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for president and later lost to Trump. Other Democrats such as Rep. David Scott (D-GA) and Del. Eleanor Holmes, Washington, D.C.'s nonvoting delegate in Congress, have also raised questions about their mental fitness.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Popular back pain medication linked to brain health risks in some patients
A painkiller used for lower back pain could be linked to a higher risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to new research. The study, published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, found that groups previously considered too young to develop the conditions faced more than twice the risk when taking gabapentin. "Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years," the research team stated in a press release. The drug has become increasingly popular for treating chronic pain, especially neuropathic (nerve) pain, the researchers noted in a press release. Gabapentin — which is also used to control seizures, according to Cleveland Clinic — has relatively low addictive potential compared to traditional opioids. Recent research has sparked new concerns over its side effects, including a possible association with neurodegeneration. Previous findings could not confirm a specific link, especially regarding whether certain age groups are more vulnerable. In the latest study, researchers collected data from TriNetX, a health research network containing electronic health records from 68 healthcare organizations across the U.S. Examining anonymous records of adult patients, the team looked at groups who had been prescribed gabapentin for chronic lower back pain between 2004 and 2024 and compared them to people who hadn't received the drug. There were a total of 26,414 individuals in each group. The researchers accounted for factors like demographics, co-existing conditions and the use of other pain-relieving drugs. Patients who had received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 85% more likely to be diagnosed with MCI within 10 years of their initial pain diagnosis, the study found. Looking at specific age groups, people between 18 and 64 years old who received the drug were more than twice as likely to develop either condition than those who hadn't been prescribed gabapentin. While there was no heightened risk among those aged 18 to 34 who were prescribed the drug, the risk of dementia more than doubled (and the risk of MCI more than tripled) among 35- to 49-year-olds. Researchers observed a similar pattern among 50- to 64-year-olds. Risks rose with prescription frequency: Patients with 12 or more prescriptions were 40% more likely to develop dementia and 65% more likely to develop MCI than those who were prescribed gabapentin between three and 11 times. "Our findings indicate an association between gabapentin prescription and dementia or cognitive impairment within 10 years." The study did have some limitations. As this was an observational study, no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, the researchers noted. For more Health articles, visit They also acknowledged that because the study was retrospective, they couldn't account for dose or length of gabapentin use. The results "support the need for close monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin to assess for potential cognitive decline," the researchers added.
Medscape
07-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Are Breast Cancer Survivors Vulnerable to Dementia?
Despite concerns about cognitive decline after cancer treatment, most breast cancer survivors show no increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and some may have a slightly lower risk than their cancer-free peers, according to a large retrospective study from Korea. However, any apparent protective effect faded with time, the investigators reported online in JAMA Network Open . Overall, this is 'reassuring news for cancer survivors,' Tim Ahles, PhD, a psychologist with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, who wasn't involved in the study, told Medscape Medical News. 'I get this question from patients a lot,' Ahles said. And based on these findings, 'it doesn't look like a history of breast cancer and breast cancer treatment increases your risk for Alzheimer's disease.' Breast cancer survivors often report cancer-related cognitive impairment, such as difficulties with concentration and memory, both during and after cancer treatment. But evidence surrounding patients' risk for Alzheimer's disease is mixed. One large study based in Sweden, for instance, reported a 35% increased risk for Alzheimer's disease among patients diagnosed with breast cancer after the age of 65 years, but not among younger patients. A population-based study from Taiwan, however, found no increase in the risk for dementia overall compared with cancer-free individuals but did note a lower dementia risk in patients who had received tamoxifen. To help clarify the evidence, investigators assessed Alzheimer's disease risk in a large cohort of patients and explored the association by treatment type, age, and important risk factors. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, the researchers matched 70,701 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between 2010 and 2016 with 180,360 cancer-free control individuals. The mean age of breast cancer survivors was 53.1 years. Overall, 72% received radiotherapy. Cyclophosphamide (57%) and anthracycline (50%) were the most commonly used chemotherapies, and tamoxifen (47%) and aromatase inhibitors (30%) were the most commonly used endocrine therapies. The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease, which was defined on the basis of at least one prescription for medications to manage dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, or memantine). During a median follow-up of about 7 years, 1229 newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease cases were detected in breast cancer survivors and 3430 cases in control individuals — incidence rates of 2.45 and 2.63 per 1000 person-years, respectively. This corresponded to an 8% lower risk for Alzheimer's disease in breast cancer survivors compared with cancer-free control individuals at 6 months (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.98). The association was especially notable in survivors older than 65 years (SHR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85-0.99). Looking at individual treatment modalities, only radiation therapy was associated with significantly lower risk for Alzheimer's disease among breast cancer survivors (adjusted HR [aHR], 0.77). Several risk factors were associated with a significantly higher risk for Alzheimer's disease: current smoker vs never or ex-smokers (aHR, 2.04), diabetes (aHR, 1.58), and chronic kidney disease (aHR, 3.11). Notably, alcohol use, physical activity level, and hypertension were not associated with Alzheimer's disease risk. However, any potential protective effect may be short-lived. The reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease was no longer significant at 1 year (SHR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.87-1.01), 3 years (SHR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.90-1.05), or 5 years (SHR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.89-1.08). Even so, breast cancer survivors can still feel reassured by the findings. 'Concerns about chemobrain and the long-term adverse effects of breast cancer treatment on cognition are common, but our findings suggest that this treatment does not directly lead to Alzheimer's disease,' wrote the authors, led by Su-Min Jeong, MD, with Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Ahles agreed. The general takeaway from this study is that there is 'no strong evidence that the cancer treatment is going to increase your risk for developing Alzheimer's,' Ahles said. When patients ask about the risk for Alzheimer's disease, 'I can say, 'Here's yet another new study that supports the idea that there's no increased risk.'' He cautioned, however, that the study doesn't address whether people with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's might develop it sooner due to cancer treatment. 'Does the cancer treatment increase your probability or nudge you along? The study doesn't answer that question,' Ahles said.
CBC
11-06-2025
- CBC
Montreal police looking for missing 75-year-old man with cognitive impairments
Social Sharing Montreal police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 75-year-old man with cognitive impairments. He is believed to be without his medication. Mohammad Ihsan-Ghazi was last seen at around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday near the corner of Hochelaga and Bercy streets in the city's Ville-Marie borough. He is described as having a tan skin tone, brown eyes and black hair. He's five feet and 11 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. Police say he speaks Urdu and English. He was last seen wearing blue pyjama pants, a brown vest, a red short-sleeve shirt, a brown tuque with black lines and brown shoes. He's known to go to Tim Horton's, McDonald's as well as parks. Police say he has difficulty getting around and investigators, as well as his loved ones, fear for his health and safety.
