Could a medicine designed for diabetes also help protect the aging brain? According to a new study, the answer may be yes.
Researchers have found that older adults with certain mental health conditions who took SGLT2 inhibitors were less likely to develop dementia.
The research was published in JAMA Network Open and adds to growing interest in finding new uses for existing medicines.
Older adults with major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia often face higher risks of memory problems and dementia than the general population.
Scientists believe these conditions may share common changes in the brain involving inflammation, blood vessels, and the way the body uses energy.
This has encouraged researchers to investigate whether medicines that improve metabolism could also help protect brain function.
SGLT2 inhibitors are already widely used to treat type 2 diabetes. They help remove excess sugar from the bloodstream through the kidneys.
Over the past decade, doctors have discovered that these medicines also reduce the risk of heart failure and kidney disease. Now researchers are asking whether the brain may benefit as well.
The research team, led by Dr. David T. Liebers at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, analyzed medical records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The study included 112,725 people aged 65 years or older.
The median age was just over 74 years, and most participants were men. Around seven percent received SGLT2 inhibitor treatment.
Using a study approach designed to closely resemble a clinical trial, the researchers compared similar patients who did and did not receive SGLT2 inhibitors.
They found that users of these medicines had lower odds of developing dementia. Some analyses also showed fewer psychiatric emergency visits, while others found fewer psychiatric hospitalizations.
Although scientists do not yet know exactly why these medicines may protect the brain, several explanations are possible. Better control of blood sugar, healthier blood vessels, reduced inflammation, and improved energy use by cells could all contribute to healthier brain aging.
The researchers caution that this study does not prove cause and effect.
Other differences between the groups may have influenced the results despite careful statistical adjustments. In addition, because most participants were older male veterans, the findings may not apply equally to women or other populations.
Even with these limitations, the results are encouraging because dementia remains one of the world’s biggest health challenges. Finding treatments that already have established safety records could speed up the development of new ways to reduce dementia risk.
The study provides important evidence supporting the idea that mental illness, diabetes, and dementia may be connected through shared biological pathways. Large randomized clinical trials will now be needed to confirm whether SGLT2 inhibitors truly reduce dementia risk and to identify which patients may benefit the most.
The research is strengthened by its very large sample size and careful design, but its observational nature means the findings should be interpreted with caution. The results are promising and justify further clinical trials before these medicines can be recommended specifically to prevent dementia.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more health information, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
