Study Suggests Diabetes Drug SGLT-2 Inhibitors May Lower Dementia Risk
A recent study from Korea has found that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes, might help prevent dementia. The study was published in The BMJ and involved over 110,000 adults aged 40-69 who were free of dementia and started taking either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor between 2013 and 2021.
The participants, with an average age of 62 and 56% being men, were followed for an average of 670 days. The study found that those using SGLT-2 inhibitors had a 35% reduced risk of developing dementia compared to those using DPP-4 inhibitors. Specifically, there was a 39% reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease and a 52% reduced risk for vascular dementia.
The researchers noted that the benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitors were more pronounced with longer treatment duration. A 48% reduced risk of dementia was observed for treatments lasting more than two years, compared to a 43% reduced risk for treatments lasting two years or less.
While the study shows promising results, it is observational, meaning no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. The researchers call for randomized controlled trials to confirm these findings. They also suggest that further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of the neuroprotective effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Given the significant public health impact of both dementia and type 2 diabetes, the researchers recommend updating clinical guidelines and healthcare policies to reflect the potential benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitors in reducing dementia risk.
Doubts Revealed
SGLT-2 inhibitors -: SGLT-2 inhibitors are a type of medicine used to help people with type 2 diabetes. They work by helping the kidneys remove sugar from the blood through urine.
Dementia -: Dementia is a condition where a person has problems with thinking, memory, and doing everyday activities. It can get worse over time.
Alzheimer’s -: Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia in older people.
Vascular dementia -: Vascular dementia is a type of dementia caused by problems in the blood supply to the brain. It can happen after a stroke or other issues with blood vessels.
DPP-4 inhibitors -: DPP-4 inhibitors are another type of medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. They help increase the amount of insulin in the body after eating.
Randomized controlled trials -: Randomized controlled trials are a type of scientific study where people are randomly assigned to different groups to test the effects of a treatment. This helps make sure the results are reliable.
Observational study -: An observational study is a type of research where scientists watch what happens to people in real life without changing anything. It can show patterns but can’t prove cause and effect.