Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 18, 2026 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
Medical News: A growing body of scientific evidence is pointing to an unexpected new role for common diabetes medications in protecting the brain from memory decline and Alzheimer’s disease. A newly published systematic review has found that a class of drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors may significantly improve memory, reduce harmful brain changes, and lower inflammation in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes.
Common diabetes medications may one day help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s related memory damage.
How Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Are Closely Linked
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking ability, eventually interfering with daily life. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is best known for affecting blood sugar levels. However, researchers have long observed that people with diabetes have a much higher risk of developing dementia. Poor insulin signaling, chronic inflammation, and increased oxidative stress appear to damage brain cells and speed up memory loss.
The researchers behind this review wanted to better understand whether SGLT2 inhibitors, drugs already widely prescribed for diabetes, could also protect the brain. These medications work by helping the kidneys remove excess sugar from the blood, but emerging evidence suggests they may also influence brain chemistry and inflammation.
Details of the Large Scientific Review
The review analyzed data from twelve animal studies published between 2014 and 2024. These studies were conducted by researchers from multiple institutions, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates, Management and Science University in Malaysia, and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin. Together, these studies examined the effects of different SGLT2 inhibitors such as empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and canagliflozin on memory and brain health.
This
Medical News report highlights that the researchers focused on memory performance using a well-established test known as the Morris Water Maze. This test measures how quickly and accurately animals can remember the location of a hidden platform, providing a reliable indication of learning and memory.
Strong Improvements in Memory and Learning
Across both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease models, animals treated with SGLT2 inhibitors consistently showed better memory. They found the hidden platform faster and spent more time searching in the correct area, indicating improved learning and recall. These improvements were seen in multiple studies and across different drug doses, suggesting a robust and repeatable effect.
Reduced Brain Damage and Inflammation
Beyond memory improvements, the review found that SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the buildup of amyloid beta proteins, the sticky plaques strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Lower levels of oxidative stress and reduced inflammatory markers were also
observed, particularly in brain regions critical for memory such as the hippocampus. Some studies even showed reduced activation of microglia, immune cells that can worsen brain inflammation when overactive.
Why These Findings Matter
These results are especially important because SGLT2 inhibitors are already approved, widely used, and generally well tolerated. Repurposing existing drugs could dramatically speed up the search for effective Alzheimer’s treatments while reducing costs and safety risks.
Conclusions
Overall, the findings suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors may protect brain cells, improve memory, and slow processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease by targeting inflammation, oxidative stress, and harmful protein buildup. While these results come from animal studies and human trials are still limited, they provide a strong scientific foundation for future clinical research. If confirmed in people, these drugs could open a new and unexpected pathway in the fight against dementia and age-related memory decline.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Pharmaceuticals.
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/19/1/166
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