A new study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia suggests that semaglutide, the active ingredient in the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy and the diabetes medication Ozempic, could play a significant role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, conducted by a team at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, analyzed medical records of over a million Type 2 diabetes patients aged 60 and older. Patients had been newly prescribed one of eight diabetes medications, including semaglutide, metformin, insulin, and other GLP-1 drugs like liraglutide.
The study found that patients taking semaglutide had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those on other diabetes medications. This reduction in risk was consistent across various demographics, including gender, age, and weight. Notably, semaglutide users experienced a 70% lower risk of Alzheimer’s compared to those on insulin.
“This is really quite a remarkable finding,” said Dr. Stephen Salloway, a professor of neurology at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “If this actually works, it would be huge. We’re really in uncharted territory here.”
The study’s lead author, Rong Xu, expressed surprise at the finding that semaglutide outperformed even older GLP-1 drugs like liraglutide. She speculated that higher doses of semaglutide, like those available in Wegovy, might provide even greater benefits.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that GLP-1 drugs, which are also used for weight management, could potentially benefit brain health. Previous research has linked similar drugs to slower cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients and a reduced risk of dementia in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
While the findings are promising, the researchers emphasize that more research is needed. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently conducting two large-scale clinical trials examining semaglutide’s effects on patients with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s. Results from these trials are expected next year.
“If these trials are positive, semaglutide would be a game changer, adding a whole new treatment option that we didn’t previously have in our tool kit,” said Dr. Salloway.
The current lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease makes this discovery particularly exciting. While the FDA has approved two drugs, Leqembi and Kisunla, that can modestly slow disease progression, they come with significant costs and potential side effects.
