Study, Jan/20: Benzos & Related Drugs as a Risk Factor in Alzheimer's Disease

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Benzodiazepines (BZDs) and Z-drugs are compounds widely prescribed in medicalpractice due to their anxiolytic, hypnotic, and muscle relaxant properties. Yet,their chronic use is associated with cases of abuse, dependence, and relapsein many patients. Furthermore, elderly people are susceptible to alterations inpharmacodynamics,  pharmacokinetics  as  well  as  to  drug  interaction  due  topolypharmacy. These situations increase the risk for the appearance of cognitiveaffectations and the development of pathologies like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In thepresent work, there is a summary of some clinical studies that have evaluated the effectof BZDs and Z-drugs in the adult population with and without AD, focusing on therelationship between their use and the loss of cognitive function. Additionally, there is anassessment of preclinical studies focused on finding molecular proof on the pathwaysby which these drugs could be involved in AD pathogenesis. Moreover, available data(1990–2019) on BZD and Z-drug use among elderly patients, with and without AD, wascompiled in this work. Finally, the relationship between the use of BZD and Z-drugs forthe treatment of insomnia and the appearance of AD biomarkers was analyzed. Resultspointed to a vicious circle that would worsen the condition of patients over time. Likewise,it put into relevance the need for close monitoring of those patients using BZDs thatalso suffer from AD. Consequently, future studies should focus on optimizing strategiesfor insomnia treatment in the elderly by using other substances like melatonin agonists,which is described to have a much more significant safety profile.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6960222/pdf/fnagi-11-00344.pdf