Study links GLP-1, other diabetes drugs to lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia

Key Takeaways:

• A major new study finds that certain diabetes medications, includingGLP-1 andSGLT2 inhibitors, may be linked to areduced risk of Alzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRD).

• ADRD, including Alzheimers, affectsnearly 7 million older Americansand costs the U.S.$360 billion annually.

• Researchers used real-world data from over21 million patientsto compare ADRD risk among different diabetes treatments.

New research offers hope in the fight againstAlzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRD), linking two classes of widely used diabetes medications toa lower risk of cognitive decline.

The findings, based on data from more than 21 million patients in the southeastern U.S., could pave the way for new strategies to prevent dementia using drugs already on the market.

The study, conducted by researchers affiliated with theUniversity of Floridaand using data from theOneFlorida+ Data Trust, compared patients over age 50 with type 2 diabetes who began treatment with eitherGLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs),SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), or other standard second-line glucose-lowering medications.

Researchers found that patients taking GLP-1RAs or SGLT2is wereless likely to develop Alzheimers or other dementiasthan those on older diabetes drugs.

A growing public health crisis

Alzheimers disease and related dementias are expected todouble in prevalence by 2060, according to public health projections. Currently, ADRD is thefifth leading cause of death among older adults in the U.S., with soaring costs to the healthcare system and emotional tolls on families.

While new FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimerssuch asaducanumab,lecanemab, anddonanemabhave emerged in recent years, theirefficacy and safety remain controversial. As a result, scientists are increasingly exploringdrug repurposing, or finding new uses for medications already approved for other conditions.

Why diabetes drugs show promise

GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is have become popular treatments for type 2 diabetes not only for their glucose-lowering effects, but also forcardiovascular, kidney, and weight loss benefits. Earlier lab and population-based studies hinted that these medications may alsoreduce inflammation and improve brain health, factors tied to dementia risk.

This new study strengthens that theory by using atarget trial emulation approach a rigorous method for drawing conclusions from real-world data. The analysis excluded insulin users due to the complexity of their diabetes and potential links to dementia.

The researchers tracked the development of Alzheimers and other dementias usingvalidated diagnostic codesand concluded that users of GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is had astatistically significant lower riskof developing ADRD compared to patients on other second-line diabetes drugs.

Whats next?

While the findings are promising, researchers note that more work is needed toconfirm the long-term effectsof these medications on brain health. The next steps could includeclinical trials focused specifically on dementia prevention, using these diabetes drugs in both diabetic and non-diabetic populations.

For now, the study highlights a potential dual benefit of these newer diabetes treatments one that could reshape not only how we manage blood sugar, but also how we fightone of the most devastating diseases of aging.

Read more about the study here.