A groundbreaking study published in the September 18, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the esteemed medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has shed light on a potential link between a class of diabetes drugs and a lower risk of developing dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
The focus of the study was on sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, commonly known as gliflozins, which work by reducing blood sugar levels through the excretion of sugar in urine by the kidneys. The lead author of the study, Dr. Minyoung Lee from Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, highlighted the significance of these findings in light of the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases and the heightened risk faced by individuals with diabetes.
The retrospective study analyzed data from individuals with type 2 diabetes who commenced diabetes medication between 2014 and 2019 in South Korea. Participants taking SGLT2 inhibitors were compared to those taking other oral diabetes drugs, with both groups matched for age, health conditions, and diabetes-related complications. Subsequently, the researchers monitored the participants over a period to track the incidence of dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
The study involved a total of 358,862 participants with an average age of 58, among whom 6,837 individuals were diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson’s disease during the course of the research. The results revealed that individuals taking SGLT2 inhibitors had lower incidence rates of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Parkinson’s disease compared to those taking other diabetes medications.
Specifically, the incidence rate for Alzheimer’s disease was 39.7 cases per 10,000 person-years in the group using SGLT2 inhibitors, significantly lower than the rate of 63.7 cases among the group using alternative diabetes drugs. Similarly, the incidence rates for vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease were also notably reduced among individuals taking SGLT2 inhibitors.
Upon adjusting for various influencing factors like blood pressure, glucose levels, and kidney function, the researchers observed a 20% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease in individuals using SGLT2 inhibitors, along with a 30% reduced risk of developing vascular dementia. Dr. Lee emphasized the need for further research to validate these findings over the long term.
Dr. Lee also pointed out the possibility of some participants in the study developing dementia or Parkinson’s disease beyond the observation period of less than five years. The study received support from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Severance Hospital, and Yonsei University College of Medicine.
