New research suggests that commonly used medications like antibiotics, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories may help lower the risk of dementia. A study analyzing data from over 130 million people found associations between these drugs and reduced dementia risk. The findings support the idea that viral or bacterial infections may trigger common dementias and highlight the potential benefits of repurposed medications.
Scientists are increasingly exploring existing drugs to treat dementia, as they can be accelerated for clinical trials due to their known safety profile. Dr. Ben Underwood from the University of Cambridge believes this approach could lead to faster development and approval of new treatments.
The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, examined 14 studies using large clinical datasets and medical records. It identified several drug classes associated with altered dementia risk, including antibiotics, antivirals, vaccines, and anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen.
However, the researchers caution that individual drugs may not necessarily cause or prevent dementia. They emphasize the importance of discussing any changes to medication with a doctor and highlighting the need for further research to understand the complex relationships between medications and dementia risk.
The UK government is supporting an Alzheimer’s trial platform to evaluate repurposed drugs efficiently. The study’s findings provide valuable insights into potential new treatments for dementia, which could lead to faster development and availability of life-saving therapies.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/surprising-new-research-links-common-medications-to-reduced-dementia-risk