Association between L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine use and delayed dementia conversion: A nationwide longitudinal study in South Korea

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are two of the most common causes of dementia. While early diagnosis and intervention are crucial, available treatments and research concerning the mild cognitive impairment stage remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine in this context.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine on the risk of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease dementia and vascular dementia, as well as its influence on stroke risk DESIGN: A nationwide, population-based cohort study SETTING: Data from South Korea's National Health Insurance Service PARTICIPANTS: Overall, 508,107 patients newly diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment between 2013 and 2016 were included.

Intervention: Patients were classified as users or non-users of L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine based on prescription records.

Measurements: The primary outcomes were the risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease dementia and vascular dementia. Stroke risk was examined as a secondary outcome. A time-dependent Cox regression analysis was used to adjust for demographic and clinical factors.

Results: Compared to non-users, L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine users had a lower risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease dementia (hazard ratio = 0.899, 95 % confidence interval: 0.882-0.918) and vascular dementia (hazard ratio = 0.832, 95 % confidence interval: 0.801-0.865) within 2,435,924 and 662,281.6 person-years, respectively. In patients under 65, L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine significantly reduced the risk of progression to Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. Stroke risk significantly decreased in patients who did not progress to dementia but not in those who did.

Conclusions: L-α Glycerylphosphorylcholine reduces dementia conversion and stroke risk in patients with mild cognitive impairment, making it a viable early intervention. Future large-scale randomized controlled studies should examine its effects on other dementia subtypes and long-term cognitive outcomes.

Keywords: Dementia conversion; L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine; Mild cognitive impairment; Stroke risk.