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Does Continuous Use Of Bentos Cause Alzheimer's Disease?
Posted on
Fri, 21 Apr 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 21 Apr 2017
Answered on
Fri, 12 May 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : yesterday my doctor told me that bentos cause Alzeheimers. is this true?that should say bentos.lorezapam
Brief Answer:
Cause memory issues, but not true regarding Alzheimer's.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is true that long-term use of benzodiazepines like lorazepam may cause memory problems and affect other cognitive functions as well. So your doctor is correct in saying you should not use it long term.
It doesn't cause Alzheimer's disease though. Alzheimer's is due to deposition of a substance called amyloid in nerve cells. That is not due to benzos, benzos do not cause true Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia (dementia meaning deterioration in cognitive functions like memory).
It is the most common one so it is perhaps the most widely recognized in the population. However, often erroneously all types of memory issues are attributed to it. However there are other causes of dementia as well, long term benzodiazepine use being one of them.
I hope to have been of help.
Cause memory issues, but not true regarding Alzheimer's.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is true that long-term use of benzodiazepines like lorazepam may cause memory problems and affect other cognitive functions as well. So your doctor is correct in saying you should not use it long term.
It doesn't cause Alzheimer's disease though. Alzheimer's is due to deposition of a substance called amyloid in nerve cells. That is not due to benzos, benzos do not cause true Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia (dementia meaning deterioration in cognitive functions like memory).
It is the most common one so it is perhaps the most widely recognized in the population. However, often erroneously all types of memory issues are attributed to it. However there are other causes of dementia as well, long term benzodiazepine use being one of them.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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