A recent study published in Neurology® suggests that a class of drugs used to treat diabetes, known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors or gliflozins, may be linked to a reduced risk of developing both dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The study, conducted by Dr. Minyoung Lee from Yonsei University College of Medicine in South Korea, focused on individuals with type 2 diabetes who started taking diabetes medication between 2014 and 2019. Participants taking SGLT2 inhibitors were compared to those taking other oral diabetes drugs, with similar demographics and health conditions. The study followed these individuals for an average of two years for SGLT2 users and four years for the control group.
Among the nearly 360,000 participants in the study, a total of 6,837 individuals developed either dementia or Parkinson’s disease. Those taking SGLT2 inhibitors had lower incidence rates of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia compared to those taking other diabetes medications. Specifically, the incidence rate for Alzheimer’s disease was 39.7 cases per 10,000 person-years for SGLT2 users, compared to 63.7 cases for the control group. For vascular dementia, the incidence rate was 10.6 cases per 10,000 for SGLT2 users versus 18.7 cases for the control group.
In terms of Parkinson’s disease, the incidence rate was also lower for those taking SGLT2 inhibitors, with 9.3 cases per 10,000 person-years compared to 13.7 cases for the control group. After adjusting for various factors such as diabetes complications and medications, the researchers found that SGLT2 inhibitor use was associated with a 20% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, along with a 30% reduced risk of developing vascular dementia. The results remained consistent even after accounting for factors like blood pressure, glucose levels, cholesterol, and kidney function.
While the findings are promising, Dr. Lee emphasized the need for more research to validate the long-term implications of these results, especially since the participants were followed for a relatively short period of time. Additionally, there is a possibility that some individuals in the study may develop dementia or Parkinson’s disease in the future. The study was supported by various institutions in South Korea, including the Korea Health Technology R&D Project and Yonsei University College of Medicine.
Overall, this study suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors, commonly used to treat diabetes, may have a protective effect against the development of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. These findings are particularly significant given the increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in aging populations, as well as the heightened risk of cognitive impairment in individuals with diabetes. Further research is needed to confirm the long-term benefits of SGLT2 inhibitor use and its potential role in preventing these debilitating conditions.
