UF Study Links Glucosamine to 25% Higher Dementia Risk in MCI Patients
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Sep 27
UF Study Links Glucosamine to 25% Higher Dementia Risk in MCI Patients
1 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Sep 27
Summary
A UF Health analysis of records from 2012 to 2024 found glucosamine users with mild cognitive impairment were 25% more likely to progress to dementia.
Lab work pointed to a possible reason: glucosamine appeared to intensify abnormal protein sugar-tagging in Alzheimer’s brains, a metabolic process tied to worse memory deficits in mice.
Among patients already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, glucosamine use was also associated with a 25% higher mortality risk; that link did not appear in the MCI group.
The study covered 1,896 glucosamine users with dementia and 2,750 with MCI, with about 8% of patients in both groups reporting use of the over-the-counter joint supplement.
Researchers said the findings are observational, not proof that glucosamine causes harm, and called for controlled human trials before any change in patient use.