Warning as popular medication could increase dementia risk by 79%

Dr Hilary lists the early symptoms of dementia

Scientists have issued a warning as a popular type of medication taken by many people has been linked to dementia. According to research, regularly taking such prescribed sleeping aids could hike your risk of dementia by a staggering 79 percent.

The study, which was carried out by the University of California-San Francisco, concluded that sleeping pills including Benzos, Ambien, and antidepressants, may increase the risk of developing the devastating syndrome.

This effect was found to be worse among white people, although the type and quantity of medication also seemed to be a significant factor.

As part of the research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, the team studied 3,000 older adults without dementia, who lived outside of nursing homes, for a nine-year period.

Around 42 percent of the participants were black and 58 percent white.

This commonly used pill could significantly raise your risk of dementia, a study found (Image: Getty)

During the study, 20 percent of patients went on to develop dementia. It was discovered that white participants who “often” or “almost always” took sleep medications had a 79 per cent higher chance of developing dementia, compared to those who “never” or “rarely” used them. Among black participants, whose reliance on sleeping medication was much lower, dementia risk was found to be higher through frequent sleeping pill use.

Lead author Yue Leng said: "Differences may be attributed to socio-economic status.

Black participants who have access to sleep medications might be a select group with high socio-economic status and, thus, greater cognitive reserve, making them less susceptible to dementia.

"It's also possible that some sleep medications were associated with a higher risk of dementia than others." Researchers discovered that white people were three times more likely to take sleeping pills on a regular basis, compared to black people in the study.

With this in mind, Leng said patients with poor sleep should think twice before considering pharmaceutical intervention. She added: "The first step is to determine what kind of sleep issues patients are dealing with.

"If insomnia is diagnosed, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT) is the first-line treatment. If medication is to be used, melatonin might be a safer option, but we need more evidence to understand its long-term impact on health."

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It comes as previous research linked poor sleep quality with a greater risk of dementia. One study, published in 2021, found that people who slept six hours or less per night in their 50s and 60s were more likely to develop dementia later in life.

To lower your risk of dementia, the NHS recommends:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Exercising regularly
• Keeping alcohol within recommended limits
• Stopping smoking
• Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level
• Avoiding social isolation.