New research from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine indicates that semaglutide, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, analyzed a large national health records database and found consistent results across various patient subgroups.
The study compared semaglutide to seven other antidiabetic drugs using data from over one million patients aged 60 and older with type 2 diabetes. These patients had recently started one of the drugs and had at least one other underlying condition such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease. The researchers employed a statistical approach designed to mimic a randomized clinical trial.
Semaglutide's Impact on Alzheimer's Risk
The findings revealed that patients prescribed semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those taking other antidiabetic medications, including other GLP-1R agonists. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, is known for decreasing hunger and regulating blood sugar levels.
"This new study provides real-world evidence for its [semaglutide’s] impact on Alzheimer’s disease, even though preclinical research has suggested that semaglutide may protect against neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation," said Rong Xu, senior author of the study and director of the medical school’s Center for AI in Drug Discovery.
Alzheimer's Disease: A Growing Global Concern
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects over 55 million people worldwide as of 2020. In the United States alone, nearly seven million Americans aged 65 and older are living with the disease, which is the seventh-leading cause of death, claiming approximately 120,000 lives annually, according to the CDC. Current treatments, such as Biogen’s Leqembi and Lilly’s Kisunla, offer only marginal slowing of the disease's progression by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain.
Potential Mechanisms and Future Research
The Case Western researchers highlight that both type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity are significant modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Semaglutide has also demonstrated benefits in managing cardiovascular factors, alcohol use, smoking, and depression, all of which are linked to Alzheimer’s risk.
"Our results indicate that further research into semaglutide’s use will need to be further investigated through randomized clinical trials so alternative drugs can be tested as potential treatment for this debilitating illness," Xu stated, emphasizing the need for further investigation into semaglutide's potential as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
