6 common medications that may lower your dementia risk

Key Points:

• Annual flu vaccinations, especially higher doses recommended for those 65 and older, are linked to a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia, with some studies showing up to a 40% lower risk.
• The shingles vaccine also shows promise in reducing dementia risk by 15% to 20%, with evidence suggesting the newer Shingrix vaccine may offer even greater protection, particularly for women.
• Cholesterol-lowering statins and blood pressure medications are associated with a 10% to 15% reduced risk of dementia, though clinical trials have produced mixed results, and it remains unclear if these drugs benefit people without cardiovascular issues.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs have a plausible scientific basis for reducing dementia risk, but research findings are inconsistent, and major reviews have found no conclusive evidence supporting their use for dementia prevention.
• Some diabetes medications, such as metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors, may modestly lower dementia risk by controlling blood sugar and inflammation, but clinical trials on newer drugs like GLP-1 agonists have not confirmed benefits for cognitive decline, indicating more research is needed.