Type 2 Diabetes Drug Linked to Significant Reduction in Dementia Risk

A drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes has been associated with a substantial decrease in dementia risk, according to new research published in the BMJ. The study suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors could lower the risk of dementia by an impressive 35%, potentially offering a new avenue for dementia prevention.

This research comes at a critical time, as the number of diabetes cases in the UK has exceeded five million for the first time. With dementia affecting over 944,000 people in the UK and projections estimating that this number will rise to 153 million globally by 2050, the findings could have far-reaching implications.

Study Details and Key Results

The study analyzed data from more than 220,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes, aged between 40 and 69, from the Korea National Health Insurance Service. Notably, none of the participants had been diagnosed with dementia prior to the study. The researchers divided the participants into two groups: one receiving SGLT-2 inhibitors, which work by reducing glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, and the other taking dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, which help increase insulin levels after meals.

The results were striking. Those on SGLT-2 inhibitors were found to have a 35% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those on DPP-4 inhibitors. Additionally, the study calculated a 39% reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease and a 52% reduced risk for vascular dementia in patients using SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Expert Opinions and Cautions

Dr. Jacqui Hanley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, expressed optimism about the findings, stating, “Its key finding that one of these drugs, SGLT-2 inhibitors, appears to be linked to a lower dementia risk, is promising and now needs to be confirmed in robust clinical trials.” Dr. Hanley also highlighted the potential for repurposing existing drugs, which could expedite the process of finding effective treatments for dementia.

However, some experts urged caution in interpreting the results. Professor William Whiteley, associate director at the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre, pointed out that the significant risk reduction observed might be due to a quirk in the study design. He noted, “If this study were true, then SGLT-2 inhibitors would almost halve the risk of some types of dementia, which is much larger than the effect of medicines to reduce dementia progression, or medicines to prevent heart attack and stroke.”

Professor Whiteley emphasized the need for ongoing randomized trials of diabetes medications to provide more reliable answers, noting that the study authors had interpreted their results cautiously.

For more details, visit the original article on Dentistry.co.uk.