A 30p pill taken by millions of diabetics can halve their risk of Alzheimer’s, researchers say in a study on the drug Actos – also known medically as pioglitazone
A 30p pill that’s already a staple for millions of diabetics could slash the risk of Alzheimer’s by half, groundbreaking research has found.
The drug, Actos, also known as pioglitazone, is hailed for its ability to slow cognitive decline, dramatically reducing the incidence of the disease. Costing just pennies per tablet, this medication could revolutionise the fight against dementia. It works by enhancing insulin levels, thus helping to regulate blood sugar.
In the UK alone, 4.5 million individuals are grappling with Type 2 diabetes, a condition often brought on by poor lifestyle choices, and they face double the risk of succumbing to dementia. Both ailments are associated with suboptimal blood flow. Dr Eosu Kim from Yonsei University in South Korea, the study’s lead researcher, said: “Since dementia develops for years before diagnosis, there may be an opportunity for intervening before it progresses.”
The study showed particularly promising results for patients with a history of stroke or ischaemic heart disease, which is linked to constricted arteries, reports Bristol Live. For these groups, the likelihood of developing dementia plummeted by 43 and 54 percent respectively, even when factors like hypertension, smoking habits, and exercise were taken into account.
On a broader scale, the overall occurrence of dementia dropped by 16 percent among those prescribed Actos, with the number of cases diminishing the longer the treatment was used. Specifically, there was a 22 percent decrease after two years of medication use, and an impressive 37 percent reduction after four years. The research followed 91,218 individuals in South Korea over a decade, revealing that of the 3,467 who received pioglitazone, they had a lower risk of having a stroke.
Dr Kim said: “These results provide valuable information on who could potentially benefit from pioglitazone use for prevention of dementia. In some previous studies of people with dementia or at risk of cognitive decline who did not have diabetes, pioglitazone did not show any protection against dementia.
“So it is likely a critical factor affecting the effectiveness is the presence of diabetes. More research is needed to confirm these findings.” During the study, it was shown that 8.3% of those consuming pioglitazone developed dementia, versus a higher 10% who didn’t take the drug. A forecast predicts that cases of dementia worldwide will triple by 2050 to exceed 150 million people.
No cure is available, hence there’s growing focus on certain lifestyle factors which could be protective. A healthy diet and plenty of physical activity can help keep diabetes at bay – plus dementia itself. However, possible side effects of Actos include swelling, weight gain, bone loss and congestive heart failure.
Additional research is required on the long-term safety of this drug and establishing an optimal dose, Prof Kim advised. The study was shared in the medical journal Neurology.