Pioglitazone, sold under the name Actos, is indicated for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. However, according to a study published in the journal Neurology, it may also be able to slow the mental decline of people with Alzheimer’s.
During the survey, the health of 91,218 individuals was tracked for a decade. Several health indicators of people taking the drug were compared with those of people who did not.
The main author of the work, Eosu Kim, from Yonsei University (South Korea), points out that dementia develops for years before being identified. “Administration of the medicine might be an opportunity for us to intervene before the disease progresses”, he says.
Lower risk
The researchers report that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dropped by 22% and 37% among people who used the medication for, respectively, two and four years. It is worth remembering that, currently, only people with diabetes can purchase the medicine.
“Previous studies of people with dementia or at risk of developing it, but who did not have diabetes, did not achieve protection or slow down dementia. Therefore, it is likely that a critical factor affecting efficacy is the presence of diabetes. More research is needed to confirm these findings,” recognizes Kim.
Pioglitazone has side effects such as swelling, bone loss, weight gain and heart failure. The research team underscores the need for further studies to focus on the drug’s long-term safety, as well as its optimal dose.
Alzheimer’s signs and symptoms
Age, history of cases in the family and little stimulation of brain activity are among the main risk factors for Alzheimer’s. The disease can give warning signs, such as:
- Recent memory loss;
- Difficulty performing everyday tasks;
- Swap objects;
- Asking the same question several times;
- Difficulty driving and finding familiar paths;
- Difficulty finding words that express ideas or feelings;
- Irritability, unjustified distrust, aggressiveness and passivity,
- Misinterpretations of visual or auditory stimuli,
- Tendency to isolation.
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