Minneapolis – A recent study suggests that a class of diabetes medications could be linked to a reduced risk of developing dementia and Parkinson's disease. The findings were published in the medical journal Neurology. 

The study focused on gliflozins, also known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. These medications help lower blood sugar by prompting the kidneys to eliminate sugar through urine.

Dr. Minyoung Lee from Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, who led the study, noted, "We know that neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson's disease are becoming more common as the population ages, and people with diabetes are at an increased risk of cognitive impairment. It's encouraging to see that this class of drugs may offer some protection against these diseases."

Researchers conducted a retrospective study involving individuals with type 2 diabetes who started diabetes medication between 2014 and 2019 in South Korea. They matched participants taking SGLT2 inhibitors with those using other oral diabetes medications, ensuring both groups had similar ages and health conditions. The participants were monitored to determine if they developed dementia or Parkinson's disease. Those using SGLT2 inhibitors were followed for an average of two years, while the other group was followed for an average of four years.

Among the 358,862 participants, with an average age of 58, a total of 6,837 individuals were diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson's disease during the study period.

For Alzheimer's disease, the incidence rate for those taking SGLT2 inhibitors was 39.7 cases per 10,000 person-years, compared to 63.7 cases for those on other diabetes medications. In the case of vascular dementia, which arises from vascular disease, the rates were 10.6 cases per 10,000 for SGLT2 users versus 18.7 for others. For Parkinson's disease, the rates were 9.3 cases per 10,000 for SGLT2 inhibitors compared to 13.7 for the alternative medications.

After accounting for various factors that could influence the risk, such as diabetes complications and other medications, the researchers found that SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with a 20% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and a 30% lower risk of developing vascular dementia.

"The results remain consistent even after adjusting for factors like blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and kidney function," Dr. Lee said. However, he noted that since participants were followed for less than five years, some may still develop dementia or Parkinson's disease later on.

The study was supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project, funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare of Korea, Severance Hospital, and Yonsei University College of Medicine.

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