Diabetes is a risk factor for dementia and this new study shows how some diabetes treatments can help lower the risk of developing the disease.
Two undergraduate students of medicine studying at the University of Galway have led a major study into how cardioprotective glucose-lowering therapies affect the risk of developing dementia.
Researchers Allie Seminer and Alfredi Mulihano, alongside researchers from the university, the HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway and University Hospital Galway, have had their work published in the medical journal Jama Neurology. The study involved a systematic review and meta analysis of 26 clinical trials involving more than 160,000 participants.
Key findings showed that medications that lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes – cardioprotective glucose-lowering therapies – were also discovered to lower the risk of developing dementia.
Not all medicines had this affect, it was specifically one class of drug, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ras). The research showed that this drug class can be linked to a 45pc lowered risk of dementia.
Dr Catriona Reddin, senior author, researcher at the University of Galway and registrar in geriatric medicine at HSE West North West, explained that this research has significantly contributed to the understanding of how diabetes medications impact brain health.
“Diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia, but whether glucose-lowering therapies can help prevent cognitive decline has remained unclear,” she said.
“Our findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists, in particular, may have a protective effect on brain health.”
Commenting on the research, Dundalk native and co-lead, Mulihano said, “Being part of this study has completely changed how I see my role as a future doctor. It brought together clinical insight, data analysis and critical thinking in a way that lectures alone cannot. The experience opened my eyes to the impact we can have beyond the bedside, contributing to knowledge that could change how diseases like dementia are prevented.”
Also commenting, Seminer, who is from New York, said it was an incredible experience to be involved with the study, adding, “What stood out for me was the sense of responsibility, knowing that our work could help shape understanding of a global health issue.
“It was incredibly motivating to be part of a team working at this level and it has shown me how research is an essential part of becoming a well-rounded doctor. It highlights how research is not just an add-on to our degree but an essential part of how we learn to advance medical knowledge.”
Earlier this year, a team of researcher at the University of Galway announced the creation of a database of nearly a quarter of a million digital microbes, potentially making it the “world’s largest” collection of these microbes, which aims to accelerate new health discoveries such as in improved diagnostics, personalised treatments and drug development.
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