Diabetes Medications Show Promise in Reducing Alzheimer’s Disease Risk, Study Finds

In a groundbreaking study published in the BMJ, researchers have uncovered promising evidence that certain type 2 diabetes medications may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. The research, which involved over 200,000 participants, indicates that patients who use sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors—medications designed to lower blood sugar—exhibited a more than 35% lower rate of dementia compared to those who were prescribed another class of diabetes medications. The study, conducted by a team at Seoul National University and based on data from the Korea National Health Insurance Service, evaluated 110,885 pairs of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Researchers focused on patients who began treatment between 2013 and 2021, tracking new dementia diagnoses over an average follow-up period of 670 days. The findings revealed a striking 39% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's and a remarkable 52% reduction for vascular dementia among those taking SGLT-2 inhibitors. Eun Ha Kang, a co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of preventive strategies against dementia, which currently has no cure and is associated with a grim prognosis. "If a common glucose-lowering agent can reduce the risk of dementia, then the impact would be tremendous from a public health point of view," she stated, highlighting the potential breakthrough in utilizing existing medications for new therapeutic purposes. While the observational nature of the study raises questions about causality and potential biases, Kang believes it lays the groundwork for more rigorous clinical trials. In fact, pharmaceutical companies are already looking into this potential application. Novo Nordisk, for instance, is exploring the use of its widely recognized diabetes drug Ozempic in trials focused on early-stage Alzheimer's patients, with results expected next year. Earlier studies involving Liraglutide, another drug from the same class, also indicated a slowing of cognitive decline compared to a placebo group. The urgent need for effective dementia treatments is underscored by the recent rejection of the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on cost-benefit grounds. Jacqui Hanley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, remarked on the significance of repurposing existing medications, emphasizing that the safety profile of these drugs could expedite their testing against dementia, making it both faster and more cost-effective. With dementia affecting over 50 million people globally, the implications of these findings are profound. As researchers continue to investigate the intersection of diabetes management and cognitive health, the hope is that existing medications can be leveraged to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. The potential to shift the narrative from a focus on treatment to one of prevention could represent a pivotal moment in the fight against dementia.