PHILADELPHIA: While prior research has indicated that older adults with diabetes are at an increased risk for dementia compared to non-diabetics, taking a commonly prescribed medication for diabetes may help to alleviate that risk.
Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Bonn examined data from over 145,000 men and women aged 60 and over taken from 2004 through 2010. The data was provided by German public insurance company AOK.
While their analysis confirmed that diabetics have a higher risk of developing dementia, they also noticed those patients who were taking the oral medication pioglitazone (Actos) were less likely to develop dementia than those not on the drug, the researchers reported.
The risk of developing dementia in those who were taking pioglitazone was about 47% less than non-diabetics, according to the study.