Some sleeping pills increase the risk of Alzheimer's
The long-term use of sleeping pills and some drugs against anxiety benzodiazepine could significantly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a French-Canadian study published Wednesday.
For six years, the researchers studied 1,796 cases of Alzheimer's appear in a health insurance program in Canada and compared them to 7,000 healthy people of the same age and sex. In the study published in the website of the British Medical Journal, showed that benzodiazepines for more than three months was associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's by up to 51%. The association was particularly related to the duration of exposure and was greater when benzodiazepines are used with a long duration of action.
The study authors, including researchers from Inserm and the University of Montreal, cautioned that the results reinforce the suspicion of a possible direct link between benzodiazepines and Alzheimer's disease, although this link has not yet been confirmed. Benzodiazepines, they note, are undoubtedly valuable for the treatment of anxiety disorders and insomnia temporary tools. But they add that the treatment should be brief and should not exceed three months.
Benzodiazepine use should be limited in time
The study results are consistent with the warnings issued by health authorities in several countries against the use of benzodiazepines, especially in the elderly, due to cognitive side effects. This is the case in France, where the drug agency in January ANSM criticized treatment times often too long, patients who take these drugs continuously for several years, despite the risk of falling or neuropsychiatric unit incurred .
According ANSM 11.5 million French consume at least once a benzodiazepine in 2012, 7 million to 4.2 million for anxiety and sleep disorders. Consumers had on average 56 years old and nearly two-thirds were women. A third of women over 65 were taking a benzodiazepine for anxiety, and almost one in five sleeping.
To limit the use of sleeping pills in the benzodiazepine family that have a small effect on sleep, the High Authority for Health (HAS), meanwhile called in July to reduce reimbursement by social security 65% in 15% present in the future.
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