Anxiety Medications Linked to Health Issues in Older Adults

Common medicines prescribed for anxiety, benzodiazepines, have been linked to dementia. A recent UK study tracked the experiences of patients over age 65 who began taking the drugs, finding a 50% increased likelihood for dementia in that patient pool. Further details about the study and its impact can be found here.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/antianxiety-drug-benzodiazepine-raises-elderly-dementia-risk-8189176.html

This post was contributed by Dr. John Holleran, a physician in the psychiatry department at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.