A new study published in the BMC Medical Journal discovered a link between daily glucosamine use and the likelihood of developing new-onset dementia.

A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis used summary-level data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Furthermore, the researchers investigated the potential modifying impacts of other recognized risk factors, such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE 4) genotypes for dementia. Digital questionnaires, physical examinations, in-person interviews, and hospitalization and death records were used to collect data.

The final analysis included 494,814 people. Throughout the nine-year study period, there were 2,458, instances of any-cause dementia, 924 cases of Alzheimers disease, and 491 cases of vascular dementia, respectively. For any-cause dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimers disease, the HR values for glucosamine users were 0.8, 0.7, and 0.0, respectively.

The results of a single-variable Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a link between glucosamine consumption and a lower incidence of dementia. After controlling for vitamin and/or chondroitin supplementation and osteoarthritis, a multivariable Mendelian randomization study revealed that glucosamine use reduced dementia.

The results of the competing risk analysis were consistent with Cox proportional hazard modeling. The positive but inverse relationship between glucosamine consumption and Alzheimers disease was more prominent among persons aged 60 years compared to those aged >60 years, and the relationships were unaffected by apolipoprotein E genotype. This was due to age-related hippocampal shrinkage, loss of cortical density, a decrease in the number of brain cell membrane receptors, and decreased sensitivity to medicines.

 Overall, the findings of the study give evidence for possible causal links between glucosamine use and a lower incidence of dementia. Daily glucosamine consumption was linked to a 15.0% reduced risk of any-cause dementia, a 17.0% lower risk of Alzheimers disease, and a 26.0% lower risk of vascular dementia.

(Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230403/The-association-between-regular-glucosamine-use-and-risk-of-dementia.aspx)