SMALL SIDE EFFECTS –
July 5, 2024 – Benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos,” are sedative drugs commonly prescribed to treat numerous conditions, including insomnia, anxiety and seizure disorders. They work by slowing down the activity of the central nervous system, meaning the brain and spinal cord. Despite these concerns, evidence suggests that between 6% and 15% of patients prescribed benzodiazepines use the drugs for more than six months.
In the new study, published Monday (July 1) in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers have revealed another reason to be cautious about prolonged benzo use: it use may speed up the natural age-related dwindling of two regions of the brain involved in memory and mood regulation, called the hippocampus and the amygdala.
