Diazepam Exposure and Incident Dementia Risk in the All of Us Database
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Thomas Farrer, WWAMI - UoI
Presentation Date
7-16-2026
Abstract
Diazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine often prescribed for anxiety and sleep-related symptoms, which may also occur during the prodromal phase of dementia. Prior studies report mixed findings on benzodiazepine exposure and dementia risk. Using All of Us Research Program electronic health record (EHR) data, we evaluated diazepam exposure and incident dementia using propensity score matching, adjusted conditional logistic regression, and lag-window sensitivity analyses to reduce protopathic bias. Exposed participants were matched to controls using demographics, survey-based social factors, EHR length, APOE genotype, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. In the primary 3-year lag analysis, diazepam exposure was associated with 35% higher adjusted odds of incident dementia (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16-1.57, p < 0.001).
Diazepam Exposure and Incident Dementia Risk in the All of Us Database
Diazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine often prescribed for anxiety and sleep-related symptoms, which may also occur during the prodromal phase of dementia. Prior studies report mixed findings on benzodiazepine exposure and dementia risk. Using All of Us Research Program electronic health record (EHR) data, we evaluated diazepam exposure and incident dementia using propensity score matching, adjusted conditional logistic regression, and lag-window sensitivity analyses to reduce protopathic bias. Exposed participants were matched to controls using demographics, survey-based social factors, EHR length, APOE genotype, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. In the primary 3-year lag analysis, diazepam exposure was associated with 35% higher adjusted odds of incident dementia (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16-1.57, p < 0.001).