A research team from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, has conducted a large epidemiological study showing that commonly used osteoporosis medications may be associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia in older patients with osteoporosis or fragility fractures.

The study included more than 120,000 patients aged 60 and older and was based on large-scale electronic health records collected in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2020.

The authors of the study, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, focused on a class of drugs known as nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBPs), which are widely used in clinical practice to strengthen bones and prevent fractures in patients with osteoporosis.

The findings showed that patients receiving these medications had about a 16% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not receive such treatment, and a 24% lower risk compared to patients taking other types of osteoporosis drugs. The effect was particularly pronounced in women and in patients with hip fractures, who are considered at higher risk of cognitive decline.

Researchers emphasize that osteoporosis and dementia often coexist in older adults and share common risk factors, including advanced age, female sex, and reduced physical activity. They suggest that effective treatment of osteoporosis may not only reduce fracture rates but also potentially slow or lower the risk of age-related cognitive decline.

Despite the emergence of new drugs aimed at modifying the progression of dementia, questions remain regarding their effectiveness and accessibility, making prevention strategies critically important.

Experts also note that repurposing existing and relatively safe medications for additional benefits—such as reducing dementia risk—represents a promising approach in addressing the global burden of neurodegenerative diseases, especially in the context of an aging population.