New research found Alzheimer’s patients who used glucosamine were more likely to die within five years, while people with early memory problems who took the supplement faced a higher risk of progressing to full Alzheimer’s disease.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A widely used over-the-counter supplement taken by millions of Americans for joint health may be linked to faster cognitive decline and worse outcomes among people with dementia or early memory impairment, according to new research.
The supplement, glucosamine, is a sugar-based product commonly marketed for joint support. More than 40 million Americans take glucosamine each year, and it is available without a prescription. But a new study found that people with Alzheimer’s disease who used the supplement were 25% more likely to die within five years than those who did not take it, according to research reported by PsyPost.
Researchers reviewed medical records for 65,000 people diagnosed with either dementia or mild cognitive impairment, a clinical term for the early stages of memory loss. Among those in the earliest stages of cognitive decline, people taking glucosamine were 25% more likely to progress to full Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings raise questions about whether glucosamine may affect the brain differently in people already at risk of neurodegenerative disease.
To better understand the possible mechanism, researchers conducted experiments involving mice with Alzheimer’s-like cognitive impairment. They examined what happened when they blocked an enzyme responsible for producing sugars similar to glucosamine inside the body.
The mice showed improved memory when that enzyme was blocked, according to the research.
Researchers believe glucosamine or related sugar molecules may attach to proteins and lipids in the brain. That coating process could interfere with normal cell function, causing brain cells to fail and die. Such damage may contribute to memory loss and the decline in cognitive ability seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
The study does not state that glucosamine causes Alzheimer’s disease, but it identifies an association between supplement use and poorer outcomes among people who already had dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
The findings come as Alzheimer’s disease affects a growing number of older Americans. More than 7 million people aged 65 and older in the United States now have the disease.
Because glucosamine is widely available and used without a prescription, the research may prompt additional scrutiny of how common supplements affect people with existing neurological conditions or early signs of cognitive decline.
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