Do Benzodiazepines Cause Dementia?

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:08:26 +0000

Benzodiazepines are a type of medication prescribed to people with anxiety and panic disorders. But do they cause dementia? In this video, I talk about the research on benzodiazepines and dementia, and what it means for people taking these medications.

GET MY ANXIETY BOOK https://amzn.to/4aLrv8m

REFERENCES:
Allison, C, and J A Pratt. “Neuroadaptive processes in GABAergic and glutamatergic systems in benzodiazepine dependence.” Pharmacology & therapeutics vol. 98,2 (2003): 171-95. doi:10.1016/s0163-7258(03)00029-9

Shi, Y., Cui, M., Ochs, K. et al. Long-term diazepam treatment enhances microglial spine engulfment and impairs cognitive performance via the mitochondrial 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO). Nat Neurosci 25, 317–329 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-022-01013-9

Lauren B Gerlach, DO, MS, Hyungjin Myra Kim, ScD, Rosalinda V Ignacio, MS, Julie Strominger, MS, Donovan T Maust, MD, MS, Use of Benzodiazepines and Risk of Incident Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 77, Issue 5, May 2022, Pages 1035–1041, https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab241

Joyce, G, Ferido, P, Thunell, J, Tysinger, B, Zissimopoulos, J Benzodiazepine use and the risk of dementia. Alzheimer's Dement. 2022; 8:e12309. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12309

WANT TO START IN THERAPY? Here’s a convenient and affordable option with my sponsor BetterHelp https://Betterhelp.com/drmarks
For a monthly fee, you get a REAL licensed therapist with whom you can meet weekly by phone, video or chat. You can also send daily messages.
For a full review of the service, watch this video https://youtu.be/kDs9HxGnyxw

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM for quick, bite-sized mental-health tips https://www.instagram.com/drtraceymarks/

FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@drtraceymarks
For a monthly fee, you get a REAL licensed therapist with whom you can meet weekly by phone, video or chat. You can also send daily messages.
For a full review of the service, watch this video https://youtu.be/kDs9HxGnyxw

If you use this link you will get a 10% discount on your first month. https://betterhelp.com/drmarks This is an option I've researched. I get a referral commission if you sign up.

Want to know more about mental health and self-improvement? On this channel I discuss topics such as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), relationships and personal development/self-improvement. I upload weekly. If you don’t want to miss a video, click here to subscribe. https://goo.gl/DFfT33

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.