Study finds some diabetic drugs can reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease

| Share Blog |

A new study has found that people taking certain drugs to lower blood sugar for type 2 diabetes had less amyloid in the brain, a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease.

The findings of the study were published in the journal 'American Academy of Neurology'.

The study also found people taking these drugs, called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, showed slower cognitive decline than people in the other two groups.

In people with type 2 diabetes, the body no longer efficiently uses insulin to control blood sugar.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, also known as gliptins, can be prescribed when other diabetes drugs do not work. They help control blood sugar when combined with diet and exercise.

"People with diabetes have been shown to have a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, possibly due to high blood sugar levels, which have been linked to the buildup of amyloid-beta in the brain," said study author Phil Hyu Lee, MD, Ph.D., of Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea.

"Not only did our study show that people taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors to lower blood sugar levels had less amyloid in their brains overall, it also showed lower levels in areas of the brain involved in Alzheimer's disease," added Lee.

The study involved 282 people with an average age of 76 who were followed up to six years. All had been diagnosed with either pre-clinical, early or probable Alzheimer's disease.

Of the group, 70 people had diabetes and were being treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, 71 had diabetes but were not being treated with the drugs and 141 did not have diabetes.

Those without diabetes were matched to those with diabetes for age, sex, and education levels. All had similar scores on cognitive tests at the start of the study.

Participants had brain scans to measure the amount of amyloid in the brain. Researchers found that people with diabetes who took the drugs had lower average amounts of amyloid plaques in the brain compared to people with diabetes who did not take the drugs and compared to people who did not have diabetes.

All participants took a common thinking and memory test called the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) on average, every 12 months for 2.5 years.

Questions included asking a person to count backwards from 100 by sevens or copying a picture on a piece of paper. Scores on the test ranged from zero to 30.

Researchers found that people with diabetes who took the drugs had an average annual decline of 0.87 points on their MMSE score, while people with diabetes who did not take the drugs had an average annual decline of 1.65 points. People without diabetes scored an average annual decline of 1.48 points.

When researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect test scores, they found that the scores of the people taking the drug declined by 0.77 points per year more slowly than the people who did not take the drug.

"Our results showing less amyloid in the brains of people taking these medications and less cognitive decline, when compared to people without diabetes raises the possibility that these medications may also be beneficial for people without diabetes who have thinking and memory problems," said Lee.

"More research is needed to demonstrate whether these drugs may have neuroprotective properties in all people," added Lee.

A limitation of the study was that data were not available to show the accumulation of amyloid in participants' brains over time. This study did not show cause and effect. It only showed an association.

The study was supported by the Korean Healthy Industry Development Institute and the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Comments

Fowbaywjlhsdcr says on 26 Mar, 2024 at 07:32 PM

XUewudNDH

Leave us reply

Name

Email ID

Comment

Cookie Notice

Visual Stories

Everyday things can jeopardize your heart's health

In the Cold Weather, Here Are Some Tips To Help You Manage Your Pain

Weight Loss: 5 Best Drinks that Can Help you to Lose Weight

Ways to reduce weight without dieting

What is the carbohydrate content of coffee?

4 winter veggies you should eat regularly

5 Inflammation fighting food swaps

How can I quickly increase my iron level?

Foods to eat and avoid after dengue fever

What's the difference between Primary and Secondary hypertension?

Top six healthiest seeds to include in your diet

Finding balance: 3 easy exercises to help you walk steadily

Is metformin a wonder drug?

Intermittent Fasting (IF) not working for you? Here are five reasons why

6 Early Warning Symptoms of Thyroid in Women

Tips for reducing sugar intake

World Heart Day: Is aspirin good for your health?

Vitamin D insufficiency has an interesting symptom

Is there a drug for Alzheimer’s disease?

Sore Throat checklist

Is COVID-19 vaccine effective on low immune people?

5 Easy Stretches to Enhance Flexibility

Want to lose weight ?Try these foods

5 non-dairy RICH CALCIUM sources

Steps to curb cravings for unhealthy foods

5 Superfoods women should eat

Best Immunity Building Nuts

Top 5 Fruits for Weight Loss

Top 5 healthy vegetables

5 lifestyle changes to control high blood pressure without medication

5 Ways to have good oral health

5 Tips to help you to quit smoking

Why is Yoga good for your health?

5 tips for healthy skin

5 Easy tips for weight loss

Top 5 Healthful Fruits

Pre-diabetes diagnosis: What does it really mean?

Categories