Potential Risks of Pain Relief Supplements on Cognitive Health

Pain may be temporary, but taking certain pain relief pills could have lasting negative effects on brain health.

Research indicates that approximately 42% of Americans will face dementia after 55, which is nearly similar to the proportion of older adults suffering from arthritis.

Many individuals rely on a popular supplement to relieve joint discomfort, but recent findings suggest it might actually hasten cognitive decline and elevate the mortality risk for those with Alzheimer’s.

In the U.S., over 40 million people take glucosamine each year. This supplement is typically aimed at slowing cartilage breakdown in joints, supposedly helping with pain and swelling.

A study featured in Nature Metabolism revealed that Alzheimer’s patients who used glucosamine had a 25% higher likelihood of dying within five years compared to non-users.

This widely used supplement also appeared to affect individuals with mild cognitive impairment, pushing them closer to full-blown Alzheimer’s.

Interestingly, researchers noted that mice with Alzheimer’s-like traits demonstrated worse memory after being given glucosamine.

In contrast, inhibiting the enzyme responsible for producing sugars like glucosamine was shown to benefit dementia symptoms, particularly short-term memory loss.

One of Alzheimer’s key features is the buildup of toxic protein clumps, known as tau, that disrupt cognitive function. But, there’s also another significant concern: an excess of sugary coatings on brain cells and proteins.

Normally, healthy brain cells have short sugar chains called N-glycans that assist proteins in connecting to one another. However, in those with Alzheimer’s, these chains accumulate improperly.

This abnormality hampers protein function, leading to memory issues and cell death, a state known as hyperglycosylation.

While some earlier studies indicated that habitual glucosamine use could lower dementia risk, they focused on individuals with healthy cognitive abilities.

It’s worth noting that the latest study’s findings were based on patient records, suggesting a correlation between cognitive decline and glucosamine usage, but not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. One doctor opined that the conclusions drawn might not be entirely warranted.

“This does not define glucosamine as the culprit for the raised dementia risk,” commented board-certified internist and pain specialist Jacob Teitelbaum. “It seems more plausible that chronic arthritis pain, rather than the glucosamine itself, is what led to increased dementia.”

Teitelbaum also referred to other studies indicating regular glucosamine intake could correlate to a 15% to 39% reduction in overall mortality risk.

“The high dementia risk is notably present in individuals with arthritis-related pain. Effectively managing pain is vital for reducing Alzheimer’s risk, and this can involve addressing four main pain components,” he emphasized.

Currently, scientists are investigating compounds that inhibit the N-glycan molecule to lower sugar buildup on brain cells, aiming to understand its impact on Alzheimer’s advancement.

Moreover, while not in supplement form, various studies have hinted that diets high in sugar and saturated fats may lead to brain inflammation, potentially harming brain cells and increasing dementia risk.