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Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer’s disease

BMJ 2014; 349 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g5312 (Published 09 September 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;349:g5312

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HALF CENTURY OF BENZODIAZEPINES
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The Croatia - born Polish, Leo Henryk Sternbach ( 1908-2005 ) who worked in Switzerland till 1941 and fled to the United States to escape the Nazis and was employed by Roche Incorporated , discovered the Benzodiazepine molecule ( Chlordiazepoxide = Librium ) in 1956 and was approved for therapeutic purposes in 1960. Since then Benzodiazepines proliferated geometrically and geographically.

In the light of present findings, it will be interesting to monitor what specific roles played by the Benzodiazepine molecule in the neuropathogenesis of Alzheimer's and allied cognitive dysfunctions.

Competing interests: No competing interests

12 September 2014
A.A.W. Amarasinghe, M.D.,
Psychiatrist
102 Bayberry Hills, Mcdonough, Georgia 30253. USA.