Seoul, South Korea – A recent study conducted in South Korea has uncovered a potential link between the use of a common type 2 diabetes medication and a decreased risk of developing dementia. According to researchers, individuals taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors may experience a 35% lower risk of dementia compared to those taking other types of diabetes drugs.
The global prevalence of dementia is projected to nearly triple by 2050, with estimates indicating that the associated health and social costs already surpass $1 trillion annually. Type 2 diabetes is one of the many factors associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, along with issues such as high cholesterol levels, untreated vision and hearing problems, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and lack of physical activity.
In the study, over 220,000 type 2 diabetes patients aged 40 to 69 who did not have dementia were analyzed. It was revealed that those taking SGLT-2 inhibitors had a significantly lower risk of dementia compared to those taking another type of drug commonly used to treat diabetes. The findings also suggested a reduced risk of specific types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia among patients using SGLT-2 inhibitors.
While the study could not definitively prove causation, the researchers emphasized the potential benefits of repurposing existing medications in the treatment of dementia. Dr. Jacqui Hanley, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, noted that repurposing drugs already approved for other conditions could streamline the testing process and reduce costs significantly, potentially providing clinicians with a more diverse toolkit for addressing dementia.
However, some experts like Prof. William Whiteley from the British Heart Foundation data science centre cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from the study. Whiteley pointed out that the significant reduction in dementia risk associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors might be influenced by the study’s design and urged for further research to confirm the findings.
Overall, the study sheds light on a potential new avenue for reducing the risk of dementia, offering hope for improved treatment options for individuals affected by this debilitating condition. Further research and clinical trials will be necessary to validate these initial findings and explore the broader implications for dementia prevention and treatment globally.