A common medicine used to treat weak bones may also help protect the brain, according to a new large study from researchers at the University of Hong Kong.
The study suggests that a group of drugs called nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia in older adults.
The research was carried out by scientists from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. It was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The findings are important because dementia is a growing global health problem that affects millions of families.
Dementia is not a single disease but a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and daily functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form. People with dementia may have trouble remembering things, making decisions, or carrying out simple tasks. As the disease progresses, it can have a serious impact on independence and quality of life.
Around the world, more than 55 million people are living with dementia today. Experts expect this number to rise sharply to around 139 million by the year 2050.
Because of this, the World Health Organization has identified dementia as a major health priority. Although new drugs have been developed to slow the disease, many of them are expensive and may not work for everyone. This makes prevention an important goal.
One promising approach is to reuse existing medicines that are already known to be safe. This is called drug repurposing. It can save time and cost compared to developing new drugs from the beginning.
The medicine studied in this research is commonly used to treat osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weak and break easily. Osteoporosis is very common in older adults, especially women. It can lead to fractures, which may reduce mobility and independence.
Interestingly, osteoporosis and dementia often occur together. They share similar risk factors, such as older age, being female, and low physical activity.
Previous research by the same team showed that people with osteoporosis or fractures have a higher risk of developing dementia. This connection led scientists to wonder whether treating bone health might also help protect brain health.
Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, often called NBPs, are widely used drugs for osteoporosis. Examples include alendronate and zoledronate.
These medicines work by slowing down the breakdown of bone, helping to keep bones strong and reduce the risk of fractures. Scientists have also found that these drugs may affect biological processes linked to brain health, which raised interest in their possible role in preventing dementia.
To explore this idea, the research team analyzed health records from more than 120,000 patients in Hong Kong. All participants were aged 60 or older and had osteoporosis or had experienced bone fractures. The researchers followed these patients over a long period, from 2005 to 2020, to see who developed dementia.
The results showed that people who used NBPs had a lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not receive treatment. Overall, NBP users had about a 16 percent lower risk. When compared with people taking other osteoporosis medicines, the risk was even lower, about 24 percent.
The protective effect was especially strong in women and in patients who had hip fractures. These groups are known to have higher risks of both osteoporosis and dementia, so the findings are particularly meaningful for them.
The researchers also estimated the potential real-world impact of these results. They found that treating 48 patients with NBPs for five years could prevent one case of dementia. While this may seem like a small number, it could make a big difference at the population level, given how many people are affected by these conditions.
Professor Cheung Ching-lung, one of the lead researchers, explained that the study suggests these drugs may have dual benefits. They not only help strengthen bones and prevent fractures but may also protect the brain and reduce the risk of dementia.
However, it is important to understand that this study shows a link rather than direct cause and effect. More research, including clinical trials, is needed to confirm whether these drugs truly prevent dementia and to understand how they might work in the brain.
This study is important because it offers a practical and affordable approach to reducing dementia risk. Since NBPs are already widely used and generally safe, they could become a valuable tool for protecting both bone and brain health in older adults.
At a broader level, the findings highlight the importance of looking at the body as a whole. Conditions like osteoporosis and dementia may be more closely connected than previously thought. By treating one condition, it may be possible to influence another.
In conclusion, this research provides hopeful evidence that a common and widely available medicine may help reduce the risk of dementia. While more studies are needed, it opens the door to new ways of protecting brain health, especially in aging populations.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and flavonoid-rich foods could help prevent dementia.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that cranberries could help boost memory, and how alcohol, coffee and tea intake influence cognitive decline.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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