Research has indicated that a popular drug may increase dementia risks. According to a report, the new study says that you may want to think twice before taking certain prescription drugs.

While sleeping pills can save some patients’ sanity, according to research from the University of California-San Francisco, taking sleep aids regularly could increase the risk of dementia by a staggering 79%.

The research was reported by the Mirror, which said that medications, including Benzos, Ambien and antidepressants, may increase the risk of developing the syndrome, especially among white people. However, the type and amount of medication seemed to be a significant factor.

The research should be read as a whole, as findings differ from person to person and from individual circumstances and background. Anyone taking such a medication reading this should speak to their own doctor if they are concerned about the effects of their medication.

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The Health, Aging and Body Composition study looked at about 3,000 older adults without dementia, living outside of nursing homes, over a nine-year period. About 42% were black and 58% white. During the study, unfortunately 20% of patients developed dementia.

White participants who “often” or “almost always” took sleep medications were found to be 79% more likely to develop dementia, compared with those who “never” or “rarely” used them. Similarly, black participants, whose reliance on sleep medications was much lower, were still linked to increased risk due to frequent use.

Lead author Yue Leng said: “The differences may be attributed to socioeconomic status. Black participants who have access to sleep medications might be a select group with high socioeconomic status and therefore higher cognitive reserve, which that makes them less susceptible to dementia. It’s also possible that some sleep medications were associated with a higher risk of dementia than others.”

The researchers found that white people were three times more likely to take sleeping pills on a regular basis, compared to black people in the study. This included everything from prescription drugs for chronic insomnia to ‘Z drugs’, so called because the names of many of the first of these drugs to come on the market begin with the letter ‘Z’.

The research team now hopes that further studies may shed more light on the cognitive risks, or rewards, of sleep medications and the role race may play.

But Leng says that patients who sleep poorly should think twice before considering a pharmaceutical intervention. The researcher added: “The first step is to determine what kind of sleep problems patients are facing. If insomnia is diagnosed, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT) is the first-line treatment. If medications are to be used, the Melatonin might be a safer option, but we need more evidence to understand its long-term impact on health.”

Dementia describes a group of symptoms associated with ongoing cognitive decline. Research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that white people had a 79% increased risk of developing dementia when taking sleep medications.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia

Staying physically and mentally active and getting enough sleep are among five ways to cut your risk of developing dementia by a fifth, says a leading professor. Professor Sir Muir Gray says that while genetic factors are out of our control, we can still help ourselves. He said: “Dementia is a terrifying prospect, but we can all reduce our risk and we must act now.”

1. Keep your mind and body active: avoid sitting still and get regular exercise, such as walking; stay mentally fit by reading and learning something new.

2. Keep your weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure low: Eat a diet full of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and legumes.

3. Quit smoking – only the biggest way to harm your health.

4. Sleep better and learn to relax and reduce stress: You don’t need less sleep as you get older, but more.

5. Get Involved With Others – Become a volunteer and join online social groups.

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