These Common Medications are Linked to Reduced Dementia Risk.

This Could Delay Cognitive Decline, Although It Might Already Be Too Late for Some.

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My Longevity Experiment
March 25, 2025

Medications that Reduce Dementia Risk: A Breakthrough Systematic Review

A groundbreaking systematic review has found that certain medications that reduce dementia risk, particularly antibiotics and vaccinations, may offer protective effects against the onset of this neurodegenerative disease. This large-scale analysis, one of the most comprehensive to date, highlights promising associations between commonly used pharmaceuticals and lower dementia rates.

A Comprehensive Review of Over a Million Cases

This systematic review, the largest of its kind, analyzed data from 14 studies, primarily conducted in the United States. The research encompassed more than a million cases of dementia, revealing dozens of medications that appear to influence dementia risk, either positively or negatively.

While the findings are not "immediately clear," as noted by researchers, certain patterns have emerged. In particular, antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines were frequently linked to a reduced risk of dementia.

Vaccinations Offer Strong Protective Associations

Among the most notable findings were four specific vaccines: diphtheria, hepatitis A, typhoid, and a combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine. These were associated with reductions in dementia risk ranging from 8 to 32 percent.

Though the underlying mechanism remains uncertain, the research team notes that infections, both viral and bacterial, may be significant risk factors for dementia. “There is increasing interest in vaccination as being generally protective,” the researchers write.

“Our findings support these hypotheses and lend further weight to these agents as being potentially disease-modifying or preventative for dementia,” the team concludes.

Drug Repurposing: A New Frontier in Dementia Research

Despite years of intensive research and significant financial investment, very few new drugs for dementia have reached approval. Most available treatments only address symptoms and often come with serious side effects. As a result, scientists are increasingly exploring the potential of repurposing existing, approved medications.

This approach is showing promise. For example, recent studies have found that a drug used to induce labor can protect aging brains in mice. Meanwhile, people taking popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic also appear to have a reduced risk of dementia.

Pooling Data to Prioritize Drug Trials

Given the sheer volume of approved medications, identifying which ones may help prevent dementia is a daunting task. However, large-scale data pooling can help narrow the focus.

"Pooling these massive health data sets provides one source of evidence which we can use to help us focus on which drugs we should try first," explains Benjamin Underwood, an old-age psychiatrist from the University of Cambridge. Underwood led the review alongside dementia researcher Ilianna Lourida from the University of Exeter.

The Role of Anti-Inflammatories, Antidepressants, and Antihypertensives

The review also found potential dementia risk reduction linked to anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. However, results for antidepressants and antihypertensive drugs were mixed, with some studies indicating benefit and others showing neutral or adverse outcomes.

These findings align with emerging theories that chronic inflammation and high blood pressure may contribute to cognitive decline. But as the researchers emphasize, further studies are required to understand whether these medications are directly influencing dementia risk, and if so, how.

“We're hopeful this will mean we can find some much-needed new treatments for dementia and speed up the process of getting them to patients,” says Underwood.

A Faster Path to Treatment

“If we can find drugs that are already licensed for other conditions, then we can get them into trials and – crucially – may be able to make them available to patients much, much faster than we could do for an entirely new drug,” Underwood adds.

Your Call to Action for Medications That Reduce Dementia Risk

This review offers hope and direction in the fight against dementia. While causality has not yet been confirmed, the associations between common medications—especially antibiotics, vaccines, and anti-inflammatories—and reduced dementia risk are compelling.

If you or a loved one are concerned about dementia, consult your healthcare provider about your current vaccination status and discuss the potential protective effects of certain medications. Stay informed, stay vaccinated, and stay proactive about your brain health.

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