Researchers from Yonsei University in Seoul have found that people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who take the diabetes drug pioglitazone are less likely to develop dementia than those who do not take the drug.
The results were particularly strong among people who also had a history of stroke or ischemic heart disease.
The researchers analysed data from the national Korean health database, focusing on individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who did not have dementia.
The study involved 91,218 participants who were followed for an average of 10 years, with 3,467 of these individuals receiving pioglitazone.
During the study period, 8.3% of the people taking pioglitazone developed dementia, compared to 10.0% of those not taking the drug. It was found that individuals taking pioglitazone were 16% less likely to develop dementia.
This benefit was more significant among those with a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke, who saw reduced risks of 54% and 43%, respectively.
Furthermore, the researchers observed that the reduced risk of dementia increased with longer periods of pioglitazone use.
Those who took the drug for four years were 37% less likely to develop dementia, while those who took it for one to two years were 22% less likely.
Side Effects and Further Research
It’s crucial to note that pioglitazone is associated with side effects such as swelling, weight gain, bone loss, and congestive heart failure.
Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term safety of the drug, as well as to determine if there is an optimal dose that could minimize side effects while maintaining the benefits.
The results of this study provide valuable insights into potential beneficiaries of pioglitazone use for dementia prevention.
Particularly for people with type 2 diabetes who also have a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke, pioglitazone might offer a means of reducing their dementia risk.
The research, led by Eosu Kim, was published in the journal Neurology.
It adds to the increasing body of evidence highlighting the connections between diabetes, heart disease, and dementia, and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive, personalized treatment approaches for individuals with these conditions.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about walking patterns may help identify specific types of dementia, and common high blood pressure drugs may help lower your dementia risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about this tooth disease linked to dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
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