Gabapentin and Neurontin Dementia Lawyers Investigating Memory Loss Claims

Gabapentin and Neurontin Use Linked to Dementia Concerns

Gabapentin is a prescription medication originally approved to help control certain types of seizures and treat nerve pain following shingles. It was introduced under the brand name Neurontin and has since become one of the most widely prescribed medications in the United States.

According to prescription estimates compiled from federal healthcare survey data, approximately 11.5 million Americans received an estimated 46.8 million gabapentin prescriptions in 2024, making it the 11th most commonly prescribed medication nationwide.

Although gabapentin has limited FDA-approved uses, physicians also frequently prescribe it off-label for other conditions, including:

• Chronic Back and Neck Pain: Prescribed to help manage persistent pain, particularly when nerve irritation or damage is suspected.
• Neuropathy and Nerve Damage: Used to address burning, tingling, shooting pain and other symptoms associated with certain nerve conditions.
• Fibromyalgia: Sometimes prescribed off-label to help relieve widespread pain and related symptoms.
• Other Chronic Pain Conditions: Prescribed in some circumstances when other pain treatments have provided inadequate relief.

Potential lawsuits are also being evaluated for former users of Lyrica (pregabalin), which is a related medication used for nerve pain, fibromyalgia and certain seizures. Both drugs belong to a class of medications known as gabapentinoids, which affect neurological signaling in the central nervous system.

Can Gabapentin Cause Early-Onset Dementia?

Concerns about the long-term cognitive effects of gabapentin and Neurontin have increased following several medical studies identifying associations between these medications and higher rates of dementia, Alzheimer’s-related conditions and mild cognitive impairment.

Recent research has raised particular concerns about adults who develop cognitive problems before age 65, as well as individuals who receive repeated prescriptions or use gabapentinoid medications over extended periods.

Among the findings reported in published medical research:

• More Than Double the Risk of Dementia: A 2025 study published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine examined adults with chronic lower back pain and found that those ages 18 to 64 who received gabapentin prescriptions had 2.1 times the risk of a dementia diagnosis compared to those who were not prescribed the medication. (Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, 2025)
• 2.5 Times the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment: The same 2025 study found that adults ages 18 to 64 prescribed gabapentin experienced 2.5 times the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition involving measurable changes in memory, concentration and other thinking abilities. (Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, 2025)
• More Than Threefold Risk of Dementia Among Adults Under 50: A 2023 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, involving more than 206,000 individuals, found that adults younger than 50 prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin had 3.16 times the adjusted hazard of dementia compared to those who did not use the medications. The study also found that dementia risk increased with greater cumulative medication exposure. (Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2023)
• Higher Odds of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Drugs & Aging examined five observational studies involving 325,245 participants. Researchers found that gabapentinoid use was associated with 28% higher odds of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, although the overall certainty of the evidence was low. (Drugs & Aging, 2026)

While these studies did not establish that gabapentin directly causes dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, their findings have raised questions about the medication’s long-term cognitive safety, particularly among working-age adults who may use it for chronic pain over many years.

For individuals who develop dementia in middle age, the consequences can extend far beyond medical treatment, potentially disrupting decades of anticipated employment, family responsibilities and independent living.

How Early-Onset Dementia Can Change an Individual’s Life

A dementia diagnosis before the age of 65 can create challenges very different from those faced by someone who develops the condition late in retirement.

Individuals diagnosed before age 65 may still be supporting children, paying mortgages, advancing their careers and building retirement savings. They may also be caring for aging parents or serving as the primary source of income for their household.

As dementia progresses, memory loss may be accompanied by difficulties with concentration, judgment, communication and completing familiar tasks. These changes can gradually interfere with nearly every part of daily life.

Loss of Employment and Career Opportunities

For many adults, one of the earliest and most financially damaging consequences of dementia is the inability to continue working.

Symptoms may initially appear as missed assignments, forgotten instructions or difficulty keeping up with responsibilities. Over time, an individual who previously performed well at work may struggle with tasks that once came naturally.

Employment-related consequences may include:

• Declining Job Performance: Memory lapses, confusion and difficulty concentrating can interfere with completing assignments, meeting deadlines or making decisions.
• Loss of Professional Responsibilities: Individuals may no longer be able to supervise employees, manage complex projects or perform work requiring reliable judgment.
• Premature Retirement or Job Loss: Progressive symptoms may force someone to leave the workforce years or decades earlier than anticipated.
• Reduced Future Earning Potential: Losing employment at age 45 or 50 can mean forfeiting substantial income, promotions, benefits and opportunities for career advancement.

For someone who expected to work another 15 or 20 years, a dementia diagnosis can represent the loss of an entire remaining career, not simply a temporary interruption in employment.

Loss of Independence and Everyday Abilities

Dementia can gradually take away an individual’s ability to perform activities that most adults take for granted.

An individual may initially need occasional reminders or assistance organizing appointments and medications. As symptoms worsen, even familiar routines can become difficult or unsafe without supervision, creating challenges that may include:

• Driving and Transportation: Memory problems, disorientation and impaired judgment may make it unsafe to drive, limiting the ability to commute, shop or attend appointments independently.
• Managing Money: Individuals may have difficulty paying bills, understanding financial transactions or protecting themselves from scams and financial exploitation.
• Household Responsibilities: Preparing meals, operating appliances, maintaining a home and completing everyday chores may become increasingly challenging.
• Personal Care: Advanced dementia can eventually interfere with bathing, dressing, eating and other basic activities, creating a need for regular assistance or supervision.

Losing these abilities can be especially difficult for adults who were previously independent and accustomed to managing their own households, finances and personal affairs.

Effects on Marriage, Children and Family Relationships

Early-onset dementia can also dramatically change the responsibilities and relationships within a household.

A spouse who previously shared financial and parenting duties may suddenly become the family’s primary income earner, decision-maker and caregiver.

Children may experience significant changes as a parent becomes less able to participate in school activities, sports, family outings and other important milestones. These types of changes can include:

• Changes in Parenting Responsibilities: A parent experiencing cognitive decline may become unable to supervise children, manage school schedules or participate in normal family routines.
• Increased Responsibilities for Spouses: Husbands and wives may need to assume financial management, household duties, transportation and medical decision-making.
• Emotional Strain on Family Members: Watching a loved one lose memories, communication skills and independence can cause substantial grief, anxiety and uncertainty.
• Changes in Long-Term Family Plans: Vacations, retirement goals, children’s education and other financial priorities may be postponed or abandoned because of caregiving needs and lost income.

These consequences can continue for years, affecting not only the individual diagnosed with dementia but also the people who depend on them.

Increasing Need for Long-Term Dementia Care

Unlike many injuries that improve with medical treatment, Alzheimer’s disease and numerous other causes of dementia are progressive conditions. As symptoms become more severe, individuals may require increasing levels of assistance to remain safe and complete everyday activities.

The need for care may develop in stages, beginning with help from relatives and eventually requiring:

• In-Home Caregiving: Professional aides may be needed to assist with meals, transportation, personal hygiene and daily activities.
• Continuous Supervision: Individuals experiencing confusion, wandering or impaired judgment may eventually require someone to remain with them throughout the day or night.
• Nursing Home Care: Advanced cognitive deterioration, particularly when accompanied by other medical problems, may require comprehensive residential nursing services.

For someone diagnosed with early-onset dementia, these expenses may begin decades earlier than the family anticipated and could continue for the remainder of the individual’s life.

Gabapentin and Neurontin Dementia Lawsuit Compensation

Individuals who develop dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or serious cognitive impairment after taking gabapentin or Neurontin may face substantial financial losses, particularly when symptoms begin during their working years.

Through a gabapentin dementia lawsuit, affected individuals and their families may be able to pursue compensation for damages that include:

• Lost Income and Future Earnings: Compensation for wages lost when dementia forces an individual to reduce working hours, leave their job or retire prematurely, including income they would have earned throughout their remaining career.
• Lost Employment Benefits and Retirement Savings: Financial losses involving employer-sponsored health insurance, retirement contributions, pension benefits, bonuses and other employment benefits that would have accumulated over time.
• Medical Expenses: Costs of neurological evaluations, cognitive testing, medications, physician appointments and other medical treatment, including anticipated future healthcare expenses.
• Long-Term Care and Assistance: Expenses associated with in-home caregivers, assisted living, specialized memory care facilities or nursing homes as cognitive abilities deteriorate and daily supervision becomes necessary.
• Family Caregiving Costs: The value of necessary care provided by spouses or other relatives, including certain expenses or income losses associated with caregiving responsibilities, where permitted by law.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for emotional distress, mental anguish and the personal consequences of losing memory, reasoning abilities and independence.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages involving the inability to pursue hobbies, travel, participate in family milestones or enjoy activities that were once part of everyday life.
• Loss of Companionship: Compensation that may be available to spouses for the deterioration of marital relationships, affection, intimacy and companionship caused by severe cognitive decline.

The amount of compensation available through a dementia lawsuit will depend on the individual’s diagnosis, age, employment history, medical needs and other circumstances, as well as the evidence establishing manufacturer liability and the laws governing the claim.

How Our Gabapentin and Neurontin Dementia Lawyers Can Help

Establishing a potential connection between a medication and a neurological diagnosis can be complicated. Dementia has multiple possible causes, and the symptoms may develop gradually over an extended period.

Saiontz & Kirk’s gabapentin dementia lawyers are reviewing potential cases to determine whether individuals and families may have grounds to pursue compensation from the pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Our attorneys can assist by:

• Reviewing Prescription History: Examining when gabapentin, Neurontin or Lyrica was prescribed, how long the medication was used and whether there was a history of repeated prescriptions.
• Evaluating Medical Records: Reviewing neurological evaluations, cognitive testing, dementia diagnoses and other medical evidence to help establish the timing and progression of symptoms.
• Investigating Manufacturer Warnings: Examining whether the pharmaceutical companies adequately investigated potential cognitive risks and provided appropriate warnings based on available scientific evidence.
• Documenting Financial and Personal Losses: Evaluating lost earnings, anticipated future income, medical expenses, caregiving requirements and the effects of cognitive deterioration on daily living.
• Pursuing Legal Compensation: Determining whether a product liability lawsuit may be appropriate and, when supported by the evidence, pursuing a financial recovery through settlement negotiations or litigation.

Our lawyers work with appropriate medical and other qualified experts when necessary to investigate potential claims and evaluate damages.

Speak With a Gabapentin Dementia Lawyer for Free

Saiontz & Kirk has been representing individuals and families in serious injury and product liability cases for more than 50 years, recovering over $1.3 billion for clients.

Our attorneys are investigating potential gabapentin dementia lawsuits, Neurontin dementia lawsuits and related Lyrica claims involving allegations that manufacturers failed to adequately warn about serious cognitive risks.

There are no upfront costs to speak with our lawyers. We offer free consultations, and cases accepted on a contingency fee basis require no attorney fees unless we successfully obtain a financial recovery.

If you or a family member developed early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or mild cognitive impairment after taking one of these medications, call Saiontz & Kirk at 1-800-522-0102 or complete our online form to request a free claim review.

FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A GABAPENTIN DEMENTIA LAWSUIT

Gabapentin & Neurontin Lawsuit FAQs

Can I file a gabapentin lawsuit if I developed dementia in my 40s or 50s?

If you were diagnosed with early-onset dementia after taking gabapentin or Neurontin, you may meet the eligibility requirements for a potential lawsuit. Our law firm is investigating claims involving individuals who developed serious cognitive impairment before age 65, including those who used the medication for several years.

My spouse took Neurontin for years and now has Alzheimer’s. Do they qualify?

Possibly. Family members can reach out to our Neurontin dementia lawyers to discuss a potential claim when a loved one is no longer capable of handling their own legal affairs. Our attorneys can explain what information is needed and whether you have the legal authority to pursue compensation on their behalf.

Can I file a gabapentin lawsuit if dementia forced me to stop working?

Individuals who developed dementia after taking gabapentin may be able to pursue compensation for lost wages, future earnings and retirement benefits if the evidence supports a claim against the manufacturer. Contacting a gabapentin dementia attorney today can help you learn whether your diagnosis and employment history warrant further investigation.

What if I took gabapentin for chronic back pain instead of seizures?

You may still be eligible for a gabapentin lawsuit if you developed dementia or serious cognitive impairment after using the medication for chronic back pain, nerve pain or another condition. Our lawyers can review your prescription history, diagnosis and other relevant information to determine whether you may qualify.

Can I join a gabapentin mass tort lawsuit if I was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment?

Individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may qualify for legal representation, even if they have not developed Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Whether you can join mass tort litigation or pursue an individual lawsuit will depend on the available evidence, eligibility requirements and how any related cases are being handled.

Did the gabapentin warning label provide enough information about dementia risks?

Potential gabapentin lawsuits involve questions about whether pharmaceutical manufacturers adequately investigated cognitive risks and provided appropriate warnings to prescribing physicians and consumers. Our lawyers are reviewing whether the warning label reflected the scientific information available to manufacturers and whether any failure to warn contributed to an individual’s injuries.

What happens after a gabapentin dementia lawsuit is filed?

After a lawsuit is filed, the parties may enter discovery, a process involving the exchange of documents, medical records and other relevant evidence. Depending on how the case proceeds, plaintiffs may be asked to provide testimony during depositions, and unresolved claims could eventually proceed to trial.

How much does it cost to speak with a Gabapentin or Neurontin dementia lawyer?

Saiontz & Kirk offers free consultations for individuals and families considering a gabapentin or Neurontin dementia lawsuit. You can contact our law firm at 1-800-522-0102 or complete the form on our website to start a conversation about your legal options, with no upfront attorney fees for cases accepted on a contingency fee basis.