TDNet Discover

This systematic review addresses the relationship of long-term prescription opioid use and the development of cognitive decline and dementia. The systematic literature review examined peer-reviewed articles published within the last 15 years and consisted of observational, longitudinal, prospective, and retrospective cohort studies, as well as randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and case-control studies. Search parameters were used to identify 14 studies of interest with the initial search. After screening, six studies were deemed sufficient for inclusion in the review. While aspects of all included studies met the basic criteria of three or more months of opioid use, requirements and documentation for dosing varied widely. Additionally, tools used to assess cognitive decline and incident dementia varied across studies. Of the six articles assessed, two reported data supporting the correlation between long-term opioid use and an increased risk of dementia and four did not. The present systematic review yields evidence that there may be some statistically significant relationship between long-term prescription opioid use and cognitive decline and dementia. However, caution is needed due to the limited number of studies available as well as the multiple differentiating factors present in each study.