A common class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis may have an unexpected benefit: lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. In a study involving more than 120,000 older adults, researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) found that patients taking certain medications to strengthen their bones were significantly less likely to develop dementia.

The medications, known as nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBPs), are widely prescribed to prevent bone loss and fractures. The findings suggest that these established treatments could potentially serve a second purpose by helping protect the aging brain. The research, conducted by scientists in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at HKUMed's LKS Faculty of Medicine, was published in Alzheimer's & Dementia .

More than 55 million people worldwide currently live with dementia, and that number is projected to climb to 139 million by 2050.…