{"id":30585,"date":"2025-07-29T00:18:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T00:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/30585\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T00:18:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T00:18:05","slug":"are-glp-1s-or-metformin-linked-to-lower-dementia-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/30585\/","title":{"rendered":"Are GLP-1s or metformin linked to lower dementia risk?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"person'sShare on Pinterest<\/a>GLP-1 agonists vs metformin: Which diabetes drugs are linked to the lowest dementia risk? Image credit: Maskot\/Getty ImagesThere were about 589 million adults around the world living with diabetes in 2024, with 90% having type 2 diabetes. Past studies have shown that people who have type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia. A new study has found that when it comes to the neuroprotective abilities of diabetes medications, people taking GLP-1 agonists had a significantly lower cumulative risk of developing dementia, when compared to metformin users.<\/p>\n

The International Diabetes Federation reports there were about 589 million adults<\/a> around the world living with diabetes in 2024, with 90% of these having type 2 diabetes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Past studies show that people who have type 2 diabetes \u2014 a chronic condition where the body does not use its insulin<\/a> properly \u2014 are at a higher risk<\/a> of developing dementia<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cType 2 diabetes is not only a metabolic disorder but also a major risk factor for dementia, particularly Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> and other nonvascular dementias<\/a>,\u201d Szu-Yuan Wu<\/a>, MD, MPH, PhD, professor of radiation oncology and pharmacoepidemiology at Asia University, and director of the Big Data Center at Lo-Hsu Medical Foundation at Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, both in Taiwan, told Medical News Today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe risk of developing dementia is approximately 1.7 times higher in individuals with type 2 diabetes than in the general population. This imposes significant burdens on families and healthcare systems,\u201d Wu explained.<\/p>\n

For this study, researchers analyzed electronic health record data from the global health research network TriNetX<\/a>. Scientists focused on data from more than 87,000 people with an average age of 58 who had type 2 diabetes and were prescribed either metformin or a GLP-1 agonist, to track any dementia development. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough metformin is widely accepted as the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, its effects on cognitive outcomes have been inconsistent,\u201d Wu said. \u201cWe aimed to investigate whether starting with a second-line agent like GLP-1 agonists might confer greater protective effects against dementia.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo previous real-world study has directly compared GLP-1 agonists and metformin head-to-head for dementia prevention,\u201d he continued. \u201cIf GLP-1 agonists show superior neuroprotective benefits, this could challenge the traditional treatment paradigm and support initiating therapy with GLP-1 agonists in selected patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGLP-1 agonists have demonstrated mechanisms that include reducing neuroinflammation, enhancing cerebral glucose metabolism, and improving synaptic plasticity,\u201d Wu added. \u201cGiven these benefits, it is imperative that we continue exploring their broader therapeutic potential beyond glucose lowering.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the study\u2019s conclusion, Wu and his team found that study participants taking GLP-1 agonists had a significantly lower cumulative risk of developing dementia \u2014 namely, 10% \u2014 with an incidence of about 2.5%.<\/p>\n

By comparison, the dementia incidence rate for those taking metformin was almost 5%. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis nearly twofold difference in dementia incidence is clinically significant,\u201d Wu explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt suggests that initiating treatment with GLP-1 agonists may be more effective than metformin in reducing dementia risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Given the high prevalence of both diabetes and dementia in aging populations, this strategy may reduce long-term public health burdens, including healthcare costs, caregiver stress, and institutionalization needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Szu-Yuan Wu, MD, MPH, PhD<\/p>\n

The researcher team also discovered that study participants taking GLP-1 agonists had a 25% lower risk of developing non-vascular dementias and a 12% lower chance of developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease, compared to participants taking metformin. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese subtype-specific findings reinforce the mechanistic rationale for GLP-1 agonists in neuroprotection,\u201d Wu said. \u201cThey are known to reduce amyloid-beta<\/a> accumulation, suppress tau hyperphosphorylation<\/a>, improve cerebrovascular integrity, and lower systemic inflammation.\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cThese effects are not only theoretical; clinical trials of agents like liraglutide have shown cognitive improvements in patients with early Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Our results support that these biological actions may translate into meaningful risk reduction in real-world populations,\u201d he detailed.<\/p>\n

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Michael Snyder<\/a>, MD, FACS, FASMBS, medical director of the Bariatric Surgery Center at Rose Medical Center, founder and director of the Denver Center for Bariatric Surgery Foundation, and in-house obesity specialist for FuturHealth, about this study. <\/p>\n

Snyder, who was not involved in the research, commented that these findings are quite significant as an introduction to a novel and seemingly extremely effective way of decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes related dementia, specifically, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and nonvascular dementia. <\/p>\n

\u201cEarly research has suggested that GLP-1 medications may offer powerful benefits for brain health,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cObesity, insulin resistance<\/a>, and type 2 diabetes are all known to increase the risk of dementia, largely due to their role in driving inflammation, vascular damage, and other long-term stressors on the brain. By targeting these underlying issues, GLP-1s, which are already widely used to treat obesity and diabetes, may offer indirect protection against cognitive diseases,\u201d Snyder pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, emerging evidence shows that GLP-1s may have direct neurological effects, influencing memory, cognitive function, and neuroinflammation,\u201d he continued. \u201cAlthough promising, long-term studies and clinical trials are needed to fully understand GLP-1s impact on the brain. With that said, GLP-1s could play a pivotal role in preventing or slowing neurodegenerative diseases, marking a major step forward in the future of brain health.\u201d<\/p>\n

MNT also spoke to Jennifer Cheng<\/a>, DO, chief of endocrinology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this research. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs an endocrinologist who treats type 2 diabetes on a regular basis, I found the study to be thought provoking and an interesting avenue of research,\u201d Cheng, who likewise was not involved in the research, commented. \u201cThe cognitive complications of diabetes can be significant and life debilitating. The protective effect for diabetes is promising and may help with treatment decisions in the future. It is an interesting method of research and can lead to further discoveries.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are discovering new effects of the GLP-1 medications and it is interesting to see the possible protective effects. Patients with diabetes do have increased risk for neurological disorders including vascular issues and dementia. This is just an observational study so there can be no conclusions about the medications being the definitive cause of the decreased risk of Alzheimer\u2019s and\/or dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Jennifer Cheng, DO<\/p>\n

\u201cFor research next steps, it would be interesting to see the new GLP-1 medications, and effects of the GLP-1s, studied to see if it is definitive,\u201d Cheng added. \u201cWe cannot conclude that based on an observational study that the GLP-1 was the primary agent to help prevent the cognitive complications of diabetes, but it does warrant further investigation, especially with new GLP-1 medications in development.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestGLP-1 agonists vs metformin: Which diabetes drugs are linked to the lowest dementia risk? Image credit:…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30586,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[49,48,10237,13663,84,377,23769,3379],"class_list":{"0":"post-30585","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-dementia","11":"tag-glp-1","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-medication","14":"tag-metformin","15":"tag-type-2-diabetes"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}