Questions remain about link between sleep meds and dementia

DEAR DOCTORS: I am a 57-year-old man, and ever since the pandemic started, I have had trouble getting enough sleep. I sometimes use a sleep medication, and it has been helpful. But I’ve been reading that using sleep meds can increase your risk of developing dementia. Is this true?

DEAR READER: When it comes to not getting enough sleep each night, you are far from alone. According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to one-third of adults in the United States share your struggle.

It’s not all that surprising, then, to learn that more than 26 million people over the age of 18 use sleep medications at least a few times each month. That’s more than 8% of the population. For older adults, the usage is higher — close to 12%. This makes any possible link between sleep medications and dementia risk an important consideration.

The question…