Diabetes Medications Show Potential in Lowering Alzheimer’s Risk

For example, a recent study found long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) reduced the incident risk of developing dementia by over 50%. These drugs are widely prescribed to control type 2 diabetes. In this NCSU-led study, researchers analyzed data from more than 92,000 people who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It also reveals some deeply encouraging things about the cognitive benefits of these medications.

The investigation did reveal some exhilarating findings. GLP1-RAs — compounds such as Ozempic and Jardiance — can help lower the risk of dementia in those with type 2 diabetes. Crucially, this new research explored data from almost 100,000 participants, giving it a strong undercurrent of credibility beneath its findings. These results are consistent with prior literature suggesting an association of type 2 diabetes with accelerated cognitive decline. This connection is most apparent in domains involving inflammation and dysfunctional insulin signaling within the brain.

Physiological connections and similarities between type 2 diabetes and dementia have begun to catch the attention of medical literature. Chronic inflammation and disrupted insulin signaling are common traits that can play a role in the emergence of both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity. This study builds upon prior research. Shepherds and Burns It vividly illustrates the extent to which poor metabolic health is tied to cognitive decline.

The resulting findings are very encouraging. A complementary modeling paper, published in the same journal on the same day, sounds some cautionary alarms about these findings. If GLP1-RAs have dementia-reducing effects, that would be really great news. We need to be careful when making inferences from these results due to limitations in the study design and lack of follow-up time. The meta-analysis as well as the original study had an average follow-up of less than five years. This short period of time may not be adequate to show long-term impacts.

GLP1-RAs present a pronounced protective effect against dementia. Sodium-glucose cotransporter−2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) lack these effects. The study found no similar effect on dementia risk linked to these medicines.