New Discovery in Lewy Body Dementia: Is This the Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting For?

Prostate Meds Could Lower Dementia Risk: New Hope for Lewy Bodies

Researchers have identified that certain mediciens, typically prescribed for prostate health, might also lower the risk of dementia with Lewy bodies—a formidable neurodegenerative disorder that currently lacks effective treatments.

This investigation centered on older males who were using medications like terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin. The findings suggest these mediciens may offer preventive benefits against the disease, unveiling a promising new direction for research into dementia prevention.

Prostate Medications and Dementia Risk: New Hope for Lewy Bodies

Medications administered to alleviate urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate may be linked to a decreased risk of dementia with Lewy bodies, according to a recent publication in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a progressive disorder that can impair memory and cognition, cause motor difficulties, and lead to symptoms like hallucinations.

It’s important to note that these findings do not confirm that the mediciens reduce the risk of dementia with Lewy bodies; they merely highlight a potential association.

“These findings are particularly exciting because, currently, there are no medications available to prevent or treat dementia with Lewy bodies, which is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s disease,” said study author Jacob E. Simmering, PhD, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

“If we can verify that an existing drug offers protection against this debilitating condition, it could significantly mitigate its impact.”

Research Methodology and Preliminary Outcomes: New Hope for Lewy Bodies

The study focused on male subjects who were administered various medications to manage urinary issues due to an enlarged prostate, a common condition in older men.

The mediciens terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin were of particular interest because they could potentially prevent brain cell death by activating an enzyme crucial for energy production in brain cells.

Prior studies have shown a link between these medications and Parkinson’s disease, which shares similarities with dementia with Lewy bodies.

For this research, scientists examined a health information database to identify male participants who began taking one of the three highlighted mediciens.

Their outcomes were compared with those of individuals who took two other prostate medications that do not activate the same enzyme—tamsulosin, and the 5α-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) finasteride and dutasteride.

Comparative Analysis and Statistical Insights

The study encompassed 126,313 individuals taking terazosin, doxazosin, or alfuzosin, 437,045 individuals taking tamsulosin, and 80,158 individuals taking a 5ARI. Participants were followed for an average of three years to observe who developed dementia with Lewy bodies.

Among those taking terazosin, doxazosin, or alfuzosin, 195 developed the disease, resulting in a rate of 5.21 cases per 10,000 individuals per year. In contrast, 1,286 cases emerged among those taking tamsulosin, with a rate of 10.76 per 10,000 individuals per year. Those taking 5ARIs saw 193 cases, equating to a rate of 7.78 per 10,000 individuals per year.

After adjusting for age, existing health conditions, and other factors that could influence the results, researchers found that individuals on terazosin, doxazosin, or alfuzosin were 40% less likely to develop dementia with Lewy bodies compared to those on tamsulosin, and 37% less likely than those on the 5ARIs. The risk of developing the disease was similar between the tamsulosin and 5ARI groups.

Conclusion and Future Research Directions

“Further research is necessary to observe individuals over time and determine whether a cause-and-effect relationship exists, but it is encouraging to consider that these medications could offer protection against a disease likely to affect more people as the population ages,” Simmering remarked.

Since the study only included male participants, the findings may not be applicable to women. Another limitation is that diagnosing dementia with Lewy bodies can be challenging, raising the possibility that not all cases were correctly identified.

For additional information on this study, refer to “Prostate mediciens Offer New Hope in Dementia Prevention.”

study Reference

“Association of Terazosin, Doxazosin, or Alfuzosin Use and Risk of Dementia With Lewy Bodies in Men” by Alexander Hart, Georgina Aldridge, Qiang Zhang, Nandakumar S. Narayanan, and Jacob E. Simmering, 19 June 2024, Neurology.