A recent study has revealed that certain medications used to treat type 2 diabetes may offer protection against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that patients treated with metformin and sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), such as Farxiga and Jardiance, had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those on other diabetes medications.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health issue, affecting over 530 million people worldwide.
Studies have shown that people with diabetes are at least 50% more likely to experience cognitive problems, including difficulties with memory, attention, and decision-making. Dementia, which affects more than 40 million people globally, has become a serious concern for individuals with T2DM.
Yeo Jin Choi, PharmD, Ph.D., the lead investigator of the study from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea, emphasized the importance of understanding the link between diabetes and cognitive decline.
“As diabetes and dementia rates continue to rise, it is crucial to explore how antidiabetic treatments may influence the risk of dementia,” she said. The study’s findings could help guide doctors in choosing treatments that not only manage diabetes but also protect brain health.
The researchers analyzed health records from more than 1.5 million patients with T2DM. They examined six different classes of diabetes medications: DPP4 inhibitors, metformin, SGLT-2 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and thiazolidinediones.
Using a technique called Bayesian network meta-analysis, they compared the risk of dementia and AD for patients taking each type of medication.
The study found that metformin, a widely used diabetes drug, was associated with the lowest risk of dementia and AD. SGLT-2 inhibitors also showed a reduced risk of dementia, along with added benefits for cardiovascular health.
These results are particularly significant because SGLT-2 inhibitors are increasingly used to manage heart failure, making them a dual-purpose option for patients with diabetes.
In patients younger than 75, the dementia risk associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors was similar to other diabetes medications. However, for patients aged 75 and older, SGLT-2 inhibitors had a much lower risk of dementia compared to DPP4 inhibitors, metformin, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones.
Notably, older women who took SGLT-2 inhibitors had a significantly lower risk of dementia compared to those on sulfonylureas, a class of drugs that has been linked to a higher risk of hypoglycemia and cognitive decline.
Earlier research had raised concerns about the potential for some diabetes medications, especially those with a higher risk of causing low blood sugar, to increase the likelihood of dementia. This study provides new evidence that SGLT-2 inhibitors may offer cognitive protection, especially in older adults.
One limitation of the study was that it did not evaluate the effects of other types of diabetes treatments, such as GLP-1 agonists and insulin, on dementia risk. However, the findings contribute to a growing understanding of how diabetes management impacts cognitive health.
Choi explained that the study’s results were unexpected. “We were surprised to find that SGLT-2 inhibitors offered more cognitive benefits than metformin or DPP-4 inhibitors in people aged 75 and older,” she said.
These findings could lead to changes in how doctors approach diabetes treatment, particularly for older adults who face higher risks of both heart disease and dementia.
The researchers emphasize that their study supports the idea of personalized diabetes treatment, where factors like age, gender, overall health, and cognitive function are considered when choosing the most appropriate medications.
This individualized approach can help healthcare providers balance the need to control blood sugar with the goal of preserving cognitive function, particularly for elderly patients who may be more vulnerable to dementia.
In conclusion, this research highlights the importance of considering both metabolic and cognitive health when treating diabetes. As diabetes and dementia become increasingly common, studies like this one will play a key role in shaping future guidelines and improving care for patients with these conditions.
SGLT-2 inhibitors, in particular, may offer significant benefits for older adults by reducing the risk of both heart disease and dementia.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
The research findings can be found in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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