UF Study Links Glucosamine to 25% Higher Alzheimer’s Death Risk in 24,000 Patients
Updated
Updated · hellocare.com.au · Jun 23
UF Study Links Glucosamine to 25% Higher Alzheimer’s Death Risk in 24,000 Patients
3 articles · Updated · hellocare.com.au · Jun 23
Summary
A Nature Metabolism study found Alzheimer’s patients taking glucosamine were 25% more likely to die within five years, while people with mild cognitive impairment were 25% more likely to progress to Alzheimer’s.
24,000 dementia patients and 41,000 mild-cognitive-impairment patients in University of Florida Health records were compared with nonusers, making the findings observational rather than proof that the supplement caused faster decline.
Mouse experiments pointed to a possible mechanism: blocking the enzyme that makes sugars like glucosamine improved dementia symptoms, while feeding glucosamine worsened memory loss in Alzheimer’s-like mice but not healthy mice.
More than 40 million Americans take glucosamine over the counter for joint pain, and researchers said the results may qualify earlier studies that linked the supplement to lower dementia risk in cognitively healthy adults.
About 8% of dementia patients in the database had stopped taking glucosamine; researchers plan to track whether discontinuation slows decline and to test compounds that reduce harmful sugar buildup in brain cells.
A common supplement is linked to dementia progression. Why is it still sold without a warning?
Could your daily joint supplement be accelerating brain aging and increasing dementia risk?
Glucosamine Supplements Tied to Faster Dementia Decline and Higher Death Rates in Vulnerable Patients, June 2026
Overview
New research published in June 2026 analyzed extensive electronic health records and found that the use of glucosamine supplements is linked to worsened outcomes for people already experiencing cognitive impairment. The findings suggest that glucosamine may accelerate the progression of dementia and increase mortality rates among those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. One possible reason is that glucosamine could worsen Alzheimer’s by fueling abnormal brain glycosylation, a metabolic pathway to which the Alzheimer’s brain is especially vulnerable. While these results show an association and not definite proof of causality, they highlight the need for further research and caution in glucosamine use for those with cognitive issues.