Long-term opioid use does not increase risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in Pain Medicine.
Researchers examined 70,718 people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in Finland and compared their opioid use to 282,862 controls, from 2005 to 2011.
The study shows long-term use of opioids does not increase Alzheimer's disease risk, and neither does higher cumulative opioid doses.
Researchers noted several other adverse effects related to opioids, ranging from drowsiness to addiction.