Common pain treatment linked to faster mental decline, death | World | News
Glucosamine Chondrotin pills (Image: Getty)
A popular health supplement used by millions to relieve joint pain may have some harmful effects in the long term, new research suggests.
More than 40 million people in the United States take a pain supplement called glucosamine (a compound made of glucose and the amino acid glutamine) each year to slow the breakdown of cartilage in their joints and erosion that causes pain and swelling.
But a surprising new study has found that millions of people taking the popular supplement could potentially be facing faster cognitive decline.
About 42% of Americans are expected to develop dementia at age 55 or older. This statistic is about the same as the number of older adults living with arthritis. Many are turning to glucosamine supplements to help manage joint pain and stiffness as they age, due to the chemical compound that has so far been considered relatively safe.
Concerns have been raised about the widely used supplement’s potential impact on brain health, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Metabolism.
File image: Old woman taking medicine from the nurse (Image: Getty)
Researchers found that Alzheimer’s patients who took glucosamine supplements were 25% more likely to die within five years than those who did not.
The study also suggested that people with mild cognitive impairment, often considered the early stage of dementia, were more likely to progress to full Alzheimer’s disease if they used the supplement.
Similar findings were obtained in experiments on mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms; Animals given glucosamine showed poorer memory performance.
Scientists also discovered that blocking the enzyme responsible for the production of sugars such as glucosamine improved symptoms associated with dementia, including short-term memory loss.
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of toxic protein clumps known as tau in the brain. These clusters interfere with normal cognitive functions and are strongly linked to memory problems.
A lesser-known feature of the disease is the buildup of excess sugar coatings on brain cells and proteins, the researchers said.
Under normal conditions, brain cells carry short sugar chains known as N-glycans, which enable cells to recognize and communicate with each other.
This process, known as hyperglycosylation, can disrupt the normal function of proteins, contribute to memory loss, and ultimately lead to brain cell death.
Glucosamine (C16,H13,NO5) molecule written on whiteboard (Image: Getty)
While previous studies suggested that regular glucosamine use may be associated with a lower risk of dementia in healthy adults, recent findings paint a more complex picture.
Importantly, the new research relied on patient records; This means that it only identified a link between glucosamine use and worsening cognitive decline, rather than proving that the supplement directly caused it.
Integrative medicine physician, researcher, and bestselling author Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum cautioned against caution when interpreting the results of the study.
He said: “This does not mean that glucosamine causes an increased risk of dementia.
“In my view, the conclusion of the study is not robust because patients with arthritis often exhibit cognitive decline over time. It is much more likely that the increase in dementia is caused by chronic arthritis pain, not glucosamine.”
Dr Teitelbaum also noted previous research suggesting regular use of glucosamine reduces the risk of death from all causes by 15% to 39%.
He added: “The increased risk of dementia is particularly evident in arthritis pain. Effectively treating pain is a critical part of reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s, and this can be achieved by treating the four key components of pain.”
Researchers are now investigating compounds that block N-glycan molecules and reduce the formation of sugars in brain cells to determine whether they could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Meanwhile, separate studies have suggested that diets high in sugar and saturated fat may contribute to inflammation in the brain and damage brain cells over time, potentially increasing the risk of dementia.
