{"id":2219,"date":"2014-09-19T14:00:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-19T21:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=2219"},"modified":"2014-09-23T12:20:07","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T19:20:07","slug":"nutrients-for-dementia-benzodiazepine-withdrawal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/nutrients-for-dementia-benzodiazepine-withdrawal\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutrients for dementia: could they help during benzodiazepine withdrawal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Half<\/p>\n

Could certain nutrients help with memory and cognitive issues, and the \u201cpseudo-dementia\u201d symptoms so many people experience when withdrawing from benzodiazapines?<\/p>\n

In a recent article I shared the new research on benzodiazepines being linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk and other serious concerns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alison, who was featured in the Boston Globe story, commented on the above blog post:<\/p>\n

I am only 29 years old, and I developed what I refer to as pseudo-dementia<\/strong> once I developed a tolerance to benzodiazepines and it got worse once the drug was stopped. From what I have seen from others recovering from and in tolerance to benzodiazepines, cognitive functioning and memory<\/strong> can get hit hard and actually mimic dementia<\/strong>. I wonder if the symptoms these elders are experiencing are true Alzheimer\u2019s, or a side effect\/withdrawal effect. <\/em><\/p>\n

This really got me thinking. She makes an excellent point. It may well be that the symptoms they are seeing in the study are a side effect\/withdrawal effect, rather than true Alzheimer\u2019s disease and may be reversible. It surprises me that the study authors have not commented on this since cognitive effects are well documented in the literature.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples I found:<\/p>\n

\u201cBenzodiazepines revisited\u2014will we ever learn?<\/a>\u201d Published in Addiction<\/em> in 2011<\/p>\n

\u201cThe review noted a series of adverse effects that continued to cause concern, such as cognitive and psychomotor impairment<\/strong>. In addition, dependence and abuse remain as serious problems. Despite warnings and guidelines, usage of these drugs remains at a high level.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBenzodiazepine harm: how can it be reduced?<\/a>\u201d Published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology<\/em> in January this year (2014)<\/p>\n

\u201cAdverse effects comprise sedation subjectively and cognitive and psychomotor impairment <\/strong>objectively. Complex skills such as driving can be compromised\u2026 Withdrawal and dependence have excited particular concern, and even polemic. Perhaps a third of long term (beyond 6\u2009months) users experience symptoms and signs on attempting to withdraw \u2013 anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms and tension and perceptual hypersensitivity.\u201d
<\/em><\/p>\n

I was not able to find much in the literature on pseudo-dementia. I did see it listed on the benzo.org.uk site<\/a> but not elsewhere in relation to benzodiazapines.<\/p>\n

I did find this paper \u201cPseudo-dementia: A neuropsychological review<\/a>\u201d which is presumably something different (as it refers to depression\/dementia). This part may be applicable: \u201c \u2018The pseudo component\u2019 which denotes the actual lack of the neurodegenerative dementia\u201d and the fact that it can be reversed.<\/p>\n

This all inspired me to do some digging on dementia. If what they are seeing in participants of the British Medical Journal is not true dementia, it’s very encouraging to think that recovery is possible.<\/p>\n

There are some very powerful foods and nutrients that help certain people with dementia and I wonder if they would also help with the benzodiazepine-induced pseudo-dementia:<\/p>\n