In a new study from Yonsei University, researchers found people taking certain drugs to lower blood sugar for type 2 diabetes had less amyloid in the brain, a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease.
They also found people taking these drugs, called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, showed a slower cognitive decline.
In people with type 2 diabetes, the body no longer efficiently uses insulin to control blood sugar. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, also known as gliptins, can be prescribed when other diabetes drugs do not work.
They help control blood sugar when combined with diet and exercise.
People with diabetes have been shown to have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, possibly due to high blood sugar levels, which have been linked to the buildup of amyloid beta in the brain,
In the study, the team examined 282 people with an average age of 76 who were followed up to six years. All had been diagnosed with either pre-clinical, early or probable Alzheimer’s disease.
Of the group, 70 people had diabetes and were being treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, 71 had diabetes but were not being treated with the drugs and 141 did not have diabetes.
Researchers found that people with diabetes who took the drugs had lower average amounts of amyloid plaques in the brain compared to people with diabetes who did not take the drugs and compared to people who did not have diabetes.
They also found that people with diabetes who took the drugs had an average annual decline of 0.87 points on their memory test score, while people with diabetes who did not take the drugs had an average annual decline of 1.65 points.
People without diabetes scored an average annual decline of 1.48 points.
These results showing less amyloid in the brains of people taking these medications and less cognitive decline, when compared to people without diabetes.
It raises the possibility that these medications may also be beneficial for people without diabetes who have thinking and memory problems.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about how your BMI number affects your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and findings of a new smell test for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and COVID-19.
For more information about Alzheimer’s and dementia, please see recent studies about this type of drug may increase dementia risk and results showing that this common tooth disease may increase risks of dementia.
The study is published in Neurology. One author of the study is Phil Hyu Lee, MD, Ph.D.
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