GLP-1 receptor agonist use linked to lower risk for overall dementia, Alzheimer disease, nonvascular dementia compared with metformin
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, July 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are associated with reduced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related dementia risk compared with metformin, according to a study published online July 22 in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
Mingyang Sun, from the People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from a global health research network between 2004 and 2024 to examine the comparative effectiveness of GLP-1 RAs and metformin in reducing dementia risk. Patients with T2DM initiating GLP-1 RAs or metformin as first-line monotherapy were included (87,229 matched patients per cohort).
The researchers found that compared with metformin, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significantly lower risk for overall dementia, Alzheimer disease, and nonvascular dementias (adjusted hazard ratios, 0.90, 0.88, and 0.75, respectively). For vascular dementia, no significant difference was observed. Consistent benefit was seen across age and sex in subgroup analyses, with the strongest effect seen among older adults and women.
“Despite limitations such as residual confounding, the findings remain robust and suggest GLP-1 RAs could redefine T2DM-related dementia prevention strategies, warranting further randomized controlled trials to confirm these results,” the authors write.
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