A new study from the University of California, San Francisco has found that using sleep medicines often might raise the chance of getting dementia, especially in white people.
Dementia is a condition that affects memory and thinking, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type.
The researchers studied about 3,000 older adults who didn’t have dementia when the study began. Their average age was 74. The group was made up of 58% white and 42% Black participants. They were followed for an average of nine years as part of a project called the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study.
During the study, 20% of the people developed dementia. The scientists looked closely at how often people used sleep medications. They found that white people who used sleep aids often—meaning between 5 to more than 15 times a month—were 79% more likely to get dementia than those who rarely or never used them.
Interestingly, Black participants who used sleep medicines often did not show the same higher risk. In fact, they used these medications far less than white participants overall. The researchers also found that the types of sleep medications used were different between the groups.
White people were three times more likely to use sleep aids regularly. They were nearly twice as likely to use drugs called benzodiazepines, such as Halcion and Restoril, which are usually given for long-term trouble sleeping.
They were also 10 times more likely to use trazodone, an antidepressant often taken for sleep, and seven times more likely to use Z-drugs like Ambien, which are common sleeping pills.
Even though the study showed a strong connection between using sleep drugs often and developing dementia, it does not prove that the drugs cause dementia directly. More research is needed to understand why the risks might be higher and whether race plays a role in how these drugs affect the brain.
This study adds to earlier research showing that sleep medicines can be risky in other ways too. They have been linked to falls, car accidents, and even higher death rates. Some studies have also suggested they might raise the chances of getting cancer or other serious diseases.
For example, a study in 2015 found that people who used sleeping pills like benzodiazepines had a greater risk of getting Alzheimer’s.
Because of these risks, doctors are advised to be careful when giving out sleep medications—especially to white patients who might be more at risk. Non-drug options, like improving sleep habits, cutting down on caffeine, keeping a steady bedtime, and avoiding screens before sleep, can help people sleep better without the risks.
Other helpful treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation methods. These do not involve medicine and have been shown to help people with sleep problems.
The researchers, led by Yue Leng, say more studies are needed to better understand how these drugs affect the brain over time. For now, people who struggle with sleep might want to try safer, non-drug methods to improve their rest and protect their long-term health.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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