Popular joint pain treatment linked to faster Alzheimer’s decline and death

A popular health supplement used by millions to ease joint pain may have some damaging long-term effects, new resarch suggests.

More than 40 million people in the US take a pain supplement called glucosamine — a compound comprised of glucose and the amino acid glutamine — every year to slow the breakdown of cartilage in their joints, with the erosion causing pain and swelling.

But a startling new study has found that those millions who take the popular supplement may be in for a potentially faster cognitive decline.

Around 42% of Americans are expected to develop dementia at age 55 or older. That statistic is more or less on par with the number of older adults living with arthritis. Many turn to glucosamine supplements to help manage joint pain and stiffness as they get older with the chemical compound thought to be relatively safe – until now.

As per a new study published in Nature Metabolism, concerns have been raised about the widely used supplement’s potential impact on brain health.

Researchers found that Alzheimer’s patients who took glucosamine supplements were 25% more likely to die within five years than those who did not take them.

The study also suggested that people with mild cognitive impairment – often considered an early stage of dementia – were more likely to progress to full Alzheimer’s disease if they used the supplement.

Experiments carried out on mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms produced similar findings, with animals given glucosamine showing poorer memory performance.

Scientists also discovered that blocking the enzyme responsible for producing sugars such as glucosamine appeared to improve symptoms associated with dementia, including short-term memory loss.

One of the key features of Alzheimer’s disease is the build-up of toxic protein clumps in the brain known as tau. These clumps interfere with normal cognitive function and are strongly linked to memory problems.

The researchers said another lesser-known feature of the disease is an excessive build-up of sugar coatings on brain cells and proteins.

Under normal circumstances, brain cells carry short chains of sugars known as N-glycans, which allow cells to recognise and communicate with one another.

This process, known as hyperglycosylation, can disrupt the normal function of proteins, contribute to memory loss and ultimately lead to brain cell death.

While previous studies have suggested that regular glucosamine use may be associated with a lower risk of dementia in otherwise healthy adults, the latest findings paint a more complicated picture.

Importantly, the new research was based on patient records, meaning it only identified a link between glucosamine use and worsening cognitive decline rather than proving the supplement directly caused it.

Integrative medicine physician, researcher, and best-selling author Dr Jacob Teitelbaum urged caution when interpreting the results of the study.

He said: “This does not mean that glucosamine caused the increased risk of dementia.

“In my opinion, the conclusion of the study is unsound because patients with arthritis commonly exhibit cognitive decline over time. It is far more likely that the chronic arthritis pain caused the increased dementia, NOT the glucosamine.”

Dr Teitelbaum also pointed to previous research suggesting regular glucosamine use is linked to a 15% to 39% lower risk of death from all causes.

He added: “Increased risk of dementia is especially prominent in arthritis pain. Effectively treating pain is a critical part of decreasing Alzheimer’s risk, and this can be achieved by treating four key components of pain.”

Researchers are now investigating compounds that block N-glycan molecules and reduce sugar build-up on brain cells to determine whether they could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Meanwhile, separate studies have suggested that diets high in sugar and saturated fat may contribute to inflammation in the brain, potentially increasing the risk of dementia by damaging brain cells over time.