In UF health records, glucosamine use lined up with a 25% higher chance that mild cognitive impairment later became dementia

What the research found

Study (observational records plus lab). Ramon C. Sun, Matthew S. Gentry, and colleagues at the University of Florida report in Nature Metabolism (2026; 8(6):1410; doi 10.1038/s42255-026-01538-4; ScienceDaily 27 September 2026). In deidentified UF Health records from 2012 to 2024, 8% of people with Alzheimer-related dementia (1,896) and 8% with mild cognitive impairment (2,750) reported the joint supplement glucosamine. After age, sex, and demographics, glucosamine use lined up with a 25% higher chance that mild cognitive impairment progressed to dementia, and with a 25% higher mortality risk among people who already had dementia (not in the mild-impairment group). Records show association, not cause. In Alzheimer mouse models, glucosamine raised sugar tags on proteins and worsened social-memory tests; blocking that tagging improved memory. Human Alzheimer brain tissue also showed more of those sugar tags than control tissue. The authors say a controlled trial is needed before anyone changes glucosamine use. Educational notes. This is not medical advice and is not a reason to start or stop a joint product without a clinician.

Evidence level: Animal study. Results in animals or cells often don't carry over to people.

Read the original at UF Health / Nature Metabolism