Dementia warning as drug taken by millions raises risk of memory robbing disorder by up to 40%, study finds

MCI can sometimes be a precursor to a dementia diagnosis.

While there was no heightened risk among 18-to-34-year olds prescribed the drug, the risk of dementia more than doubled and MCI more than tripled among 35–49 year old prescribed it.

Patients given 12 or more prescriptions were at even greater risk, the scientists found.

These patients were 40 per cent more likely to develop dementia and 65 per cent more likely to develop MCI than those prescribed gabapentin between 3 and 11 times.