AL amyloidosis and benzodiazepines

[Rick1]

Hi,

I read in a article on the internet, that benzodiazepines use may raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
As Alzheimer's disease is caused by protein pieces called beta-amyloid, that clump together, could it be possible that long term use of benzos
may cause amyloid deposits in body tissues and vital organs such as heart, kidneys, etc. triggering AL amyloidosis?

Thank you for your help.

[Miriam Vered]

There is no evidence that benzodiazepine use is associated with AL amyloidosis or other types of systemic amyloidosis.
Although patients with Alzheimer's do have amyloid deposits in the brain, (along with other abnormal brain findings), Alzheimer's disease is not considered a form of systemic amyloidosis.
 
Some studies have found an association between benzodiazepine use and dementia, while other studies have not found such an association. The mechanism whereby such an association may work is not understood at present, and is not necessarily connected with amyloid deposit formation. There have been suggestions that the symptoms of dementia may lead to increase in benzodiazepine use rather than the benzodiazepines causing Alzheimer's.