A recent study published in the journal Nature Metabolism found that people with Alzheimer’s disease who took glucosamine supplements were 25% more likely to die within five years than those who didn’t. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Florida, analyzed anonymized medical records from over 24,000 patients with dementia and 41,000 with mild cognitive impairment.

What the Study Found

The researchers found that glucosamine, a sugar molecule commonly taken for joint pain and arthritis, affected people in the earliest stage of memory loss, a condition called mild cognitive impairment. Those taking glucosamine were 25% more likely to progress to full Alzheimer’s. The study also found that blocking the enzyme that makes sugars like glucosamine improved dementia symptoms in mice, while feeding them glucosamine made memory loss worse.

The study’s lead author, Ramon Sun, noted that the Food and Drug Administration classifies glucosamine as a dietary supplement, not a prescription drug, allowing anyone to buy it over the counter without seeing a doctor. Sun emphasized that while glucosamine may be safe and potentially protective for healthy brains, it may be harmful for brains already experiencing cognitive decline.

Implications and Next Steps

The study’s findings have significant implications for the millions of Americans taking glucosamine supplements. While the study cannot prove that glucosamine causes faster cognitive decline, it suggests a potential link between the two. The researchers plan to conduct further studies, including a clinical trial on patients who took glucosamine and then discontinued it, to determine whether stopping the supplement slows cognitive decline.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.