biostudies-literatureFull KMNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNICHD NIH HHSNIA NIH HHSNIDDK NIH HHSNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNHLBI NIH HHSNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNIDCD NIH HHSNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersNIAMS NIH HHSNational Institute on AgingNIH HHS438-446https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9977227biostudies-literatureUnknown78(3)<h4>Background</h4>Sleep medications may contribute to dementia development or indicate sleep disturbances that are markers of or contributors to neurologic disease. The objective of this study was to examine the use of sleep medications and incident dementia in a community-based cohort of older adults. We hypothesize late-life sleep medication use is associated with a greater risk of dementia.<h4>Methods</h4>The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study is an ongoing community-based cohort study. ARIC participants taking barbiturates, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists (Z-drugs), or other hypnotics in 2011-2013 were categorized as sleep medication users. Participants were followed through 2019 for incident dementia. Logistic regression propensity scores were used to match sleep medication users with nonusers (1:2). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for time to dementia diagnosis with adjustment for demographics, lifestyle characteristics, and cardiovascular risk factors.<h4>Results</h4>One-quarter of the eligible ARIC participants used sleep medications. In the matched sample (N = 4 197; 69% female; mean age 75.3 + 5.0 years), 632 dementia cases were ascertained over a median follow-up of 6.5 years. In the fully adjusted model, sleep medication use compared to nonuse was associated with a 48% greater risk of dementia (HR: 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-1.74).<h4>Conclusion</h4>To expand on these findings, studies with longer follow-up and earlier assessment of sleep medication use are needed. Furthermore investigation of the potential dose-response association of multiple sleep medications and the potential causal role of sleep medications in the development of dementia may be clinically meaningful.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciencesAssociations of Late-Life Sleep Medication Use With Incident Dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.PMC99772272U01HL096899K12 HD0434832U01HL0968142U01HL096812T32 HL007779HHSN268201700004I2U01HL096917RF1 AG050745U01 HL096917HHSN268201700002IRF1AG050745U01 HL096902R01 HL0708251K01DK121825K24 AG052573R01 AG0625312U01HL096902K01 DK1218251R01AG050507HHSN268201700003IHHSN268201700005IHHSN268201700001IHL70825R01 AG050507U01 HL096814K12 AR084232U01 HL096899K24 HL1592461RF1AG050745R01AG062531Lutsey PLShin JIPusalavidyasagar SSullivan KJGottesman RFPalta PPase MPFull KMSpira APfalseAssociations of Late-Life Sleep Medication Use With Incident Dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.<h4>Background</h4>Sleep medications may contribute to dementia development or indicate sleep disturbances that are markers of or contributors to neurologic disease. The objective of this study was to examine the use of sleep medications and incident dementia in a community-based cohort of older adults. We hypothesize late-life sleep medication use is associated with a greater risk of dementia.<h4>Methods</h4>The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study is an ongoing community-based cohort study. ARIC participants taking barbiturates, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists (Z-drugs), or other hypnotics in 2011-2013 were categorized as sleep medication users. Participants were followed through 2019 for incident dementia. Logistic regression propensity scores were used to match sleep medication users with nonusers (1:2). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for time to dementia diagnosis with adjustment for demographics, lifestyle characteristics, and cardiovascular risk factors.<h4>Results</h4>One-quarter of the eligible ARIC participants used sleep medications. In the matched sample (N = 4 197; 69% female; mean age 75.3 + 5.0 years), 632 dementia cases were ascertained over a median follow-up of 6.5 years. In the fully adjusted model, sleep medication use compared to nonuse was associated with a 48% greater risk of dementia (HR: 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-1.74).<h4>Conclusion</h4>To expand on these findings, studies with longer follow-up and earlier assessment of sleep medication use are needed. Furthermore investigation of the potential dose-response association of multiple sleep medications and the potential causal role of sleep medications in the development of dementia may be clinically meaningful.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Mar2026-03-31T10:37:46.514Z2025-04-04T14:23:44.393ZS-EPMC99772273542189710.1093/gerona/glac088