Aging and Alzheimer's Disease - investigating drug effects
The geroscience hypothesis focuses on extending the healthy lifespan by targeting aging mechanisms. Recent advances in biomarkers for biological aging give rise to tools for measuring aging and assessing treatments. Alzheimer’s disease, a major health issue, may benefit from common drugs and early interventions.
In a new thesis from the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, PhD student Bowen Tang evaluates the effects of various drugs on aging and onset of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), aiming to provide insights into drug candidates with repurposing potential as anti-aging agents or AD-modifying treatments.
What are the most important results in your thesis?
"In my four studies, we examined the effects of various drugs on biological age (BA) biomarkers and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. Studies I and II identified several drug classes—such as calcium channel blockers, vitamin D analogues, and thiazides—that were associated with reductions in BA biomarkers. However, these findings warrant further validation. Study III investigated the genetic effects of antidiabetic drugs on AD risk, revealing that sulfonylureas and GLP-1 analogues significantly reduced the risk of AD, by approximately 60% and 70%, respectively. Study IV utilized Swedish register data to show that, among older individuals with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 analogues were associated with a reduced risk of dementia by 30% and 23% compared to sulfonylureas and DPP-4 inhibitors, respectively."
Why did you become interested in this topic?
"I was drawn to this topic because it integrates several cutting-edge and interdisciplinary fields, including aging research, age-related diseases, pharmacoepidemiology, and the application of causal inference methods. While challenging, this combination offered a compelling and highly rewarding training ground for my PhD journey."
What do you think should be done in future research?
"My studies suggest that some common drugs may provide protective effects against aging and AD/dementia. However, further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, is essential to confirm these findings and fully explore their therapeutic potential."
Doctoral thesis
“Investigating drug effects on aging and Alzheimer's Disease using causal inference approaches.”
Bowen Tang. Stockholm: Karolinska Institutet (2025), ISBN: 978-91-8017-434-3