A large-scale study published in JAMA Neurology has found that two widely used diabetes medications may significantly reduce the risk of dementia, offering new hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s and related conditions.  Researchers analyzed health data from over 92,000 adults aged 50 and above living with type 2 diabetes across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The study found that patients who were prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists—a class of drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy—had a 33% lower risk of developing dementia.

Even more strikingly, those taking SGLT2 inhibitors, such as Jardiance, had a 43% reduced risk.  Other diabetes medications showed no statistically significant link to dementia risk reduction.  A Promising Lead in a Challenging Landscape With the global population aging rapidly, the number of dementia cases is climbing steadily, placing enormous pressure on healthcare systems. Despite decades of intense research, a definitive cure for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia remains elusive, and even existing treatments only offer modest symptom management. 

Against this backdrop, researchers are turning their attention to repurposing existing drugs—a strategy that could shorten the timeline for implementation, since these medications already have established safety profiles.  "Identifying already-approved medications that could also protect against dementia is a promising strategy, especially given the long and costly road to developing new drugs," said the study authors. 

Why the Link Between Diabetes and Dementia Matters Type 2 diabetes has long been associated with an increased risk of dementia, potentially due to shared mechanisms like chronic inflammation, vascular damage, and impaired insulin signaling in the brain.  These biological overlaps have led scientists to question whether treatments for diabetes could also have protective effects on brain health. The current study is among the most robust to date, thanks to its large sample size and rigorous adjustment for potential confounding factors. 

What the Study Looked At Researchers followed participants from the time of their diabetes diagnosis until they either developed dementia or passed away. They tracked incidences of various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia.  The study focused on comparing the incidence of dementia in those taking GLP-1RAs and SGLT2 inhibitors with those on other diabetes medications, highlighting a significant protective effect for only those two classes. 

What’s Next? While the results are promising, experts caution that more research is needed to understand how these drugs influence brain health and whether similar effects would be seen in people without diabetes.  Still, the findings open the door to potential new uses for GLP-1RAs and SGLT2 inhibitors—both of which are already making headlines for their roles in managing blood sugar and promoting weight loss. 

As research continues, this study underscores the possibility that the road to fighting dementia may, in part, lie through medications already sitting on pharmacy shelves.