You probably saw the headlines out of California as they sent a jolt through the sleep world as well as social media: Do common sleep medications increase your risk of dementia? In this episode we will:
- Review what the UCSF study actually found — and what the headlines got wrong
- Determine which medications are most often implicated (benzodiazepines vs Z-drugs vs trazodone)
- Take a deep dive into the three best studies on sleeping pills and dementia risk
- Find out why some large studies do show a connection… and others don’t
- Learn the real risks you should take seriously — even if dementia isn’t one of them
- Think about how doctors should actually practice prescribing sleep meds in older adults
Produced by: Maeve Winter
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Thanks for listening and sleep well!
