Sunday Sep 14, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Benzodiazepine use may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a case-control study led by Sophie Billioti de Gage  at Université de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France  and colleagues.

The study found use of benzodiazepine associated with 51% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease five years after the treatment.   After adjustment for anxiety, depression and insomnia, the drug use was still associated with 43% increased risk of the dementia.

High doses of benzodiazepine were associated with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and longer acting drugs were linked to higher risk for the disease.

The researchers concluded "Benzodiazepine use is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The stronger association observed for long term exposures reinforces the suspicion of a possible direct association, even if benzodiazepine use might also be an early marker of a condition associated with an increased risk of dementia."

The study was based on data from The Quebec health insurance program database (RAMQ).

Billioti de Gage S, Moride Y, Ducruet T, Kurth T, Verdoux H, Tournier M, Pariente A, Bégaud B., Benzodiazepine use and risk of Alzheimer's disease: case-control study.  BMJ. 2014 Sep 9;349:g5205. 

Drugs contain fillers or excipients such as preservatives and synthetic colors.  Synthetic colors contain high amounts of aluminum, a neuron-toxic metal that has been considered a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.  It remains unknown which ingredients in these anxiety drugs contribute to the elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. (David Liu, PHD)