Glucosamine supplement linked to higher dementia risk

A study published in Nature Metabolism has identified a potential link between the common joint supplement glucosamine and an increased risk of dementia progression. Researchers from the University of Florida analyzed medical records from approximately 24,000 patients with dementia and 41,000 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The findings indicate that individuals with MCI who used glucosamine had a 25% higher probability of progressing to dementia. Among those already diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, glucosamine use was associated with a 25% increase in mortality risk over a five-year period.

While the researchers emphasized that these are observational results and do not prove direct causality, mouse models supported the findings. In genetically modified mice with Alzheimer's-like symptoms, glucosamine administration exacerbated memory loss, whereas blocking the enzyme that produces such sugars appeared to ameliorate symptoms. The study suggests that glucosamine may influence the metabolic drivers of Alzheimer's by affecting glycosylation in the brain.