Can the Incidence of Dementia Be Reduced with Pioglitazone?

Long-term use of pioglitazone, a potent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, reduced the risk of dementia by 47% in patients with non–insulin-dependent diabetes.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), a nuclear hormone receptor, is a potential target for the treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). This receptor regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, both of which are abnormal in AD. A local microglia-mediated inflammatory response centers on the amyloid plaques in AD. The activation of PPAR-γ suppresses inflammation as well as expression of cytokines and other mediators associated with activated microglia. Drugs of the thiazolidinedione class, originally developed to reduce insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus, are potent PPAR-γ agonists. Two such drugs in clinical use are pioglitazone and rosiglitazone.

Using longitudinal observational data from 2004 to 2010, researchers …

Reviewing Author

Jaime Toro, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

Jaime Toro, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

Can the Incidence of Dementia Be Reduced with Pioglitazone?

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Reviewing Author