Can the medications treating dementia-related conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, depression) be used for dementia prevention and treatment as well?

As the global population ages, dementia has emerged as a significant health and societal challenge, with current treatments offering limited relief. Could medications for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and depression also serve a dual purpose in preventing and treating dementia?

This research represents a crucial step towards a more effective and economical approach to dementia care. By analysing the health records of millions of UK people we seek to identify if the risk of dementia in the people who use commonly prescribed medications is lower than in those who do not. It will also explore if the medications work better on a certain group of people or a specific subtype of dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia). The outcomes could propose the most promising medications for further clinical trials for dementia treatments, shortening the time frame and lowering the costs to make dementia care more accessible and cost-effective.