Table 3.

Longitudinal studies.

References	Objective	Intervention	Number of subjects	Main outcome measures	Findings
Bierman et al. (2007)	To evaluate the effects of BZD use on cognitive function in the elderly. Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), a population-based study	9 year follow-up	2,105 subjects aged 55 to 85 years.	General cognitive functioning measured by means of the Mini-mental State; Episodic memory measured with a Auditory Verbal Learning Test; Fluid intelligence measured by means of two sub-sets of 12 items (A and B) from Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices; Information processing speed measured by means of an adjusted version of the Coding task.	The duration of treatment and cumulative exposure to BZD use had a negative effect on the cognitive function of elderly people. However, this effect was small.
Boeuf-Cazou et al. (2011)	To investigate the impact of long-term BZD consumption on cognitive function Population from the VISAT study (Aging, Health and Work) (France). A prospective cohort study.	10 year follow-up	1,660 men and 1,577 women aged 32, 42, 52, and 62 years, classified according to the use of BDZs into non-users, occasional users and log-term users.	Cognitive function was assessed using five cognitive tests (immediate free recall test, delayed free recall test, recognition test, Digit Symbol Substitution Subtest and visual search speed test).	Long-term use of BDZs leads to specific impairment in long-term memory in women.