Can a popular weight-loss drug reduce risk of Alzheimer’s?

“These results were akin for older patients, some genders, and those with and without obesity. Cumulative incidence curves [of semaglutide and different diabetes medicine] began to diverge wrong 30 days, and continued to abstracted thereafter, indicating semaglutide’s imaginable to hold oregon dilatory Alzheimer’s Disease improvement with sustained effects,” the survey said.

A promising study

Researchers analysed wellness records of implicit a cardinal patients successful the US with benignant 2 diabetes to spot however semaglutide affects the hazard of processing AD. They compared semaglutide to 7 different diabetes medications, and tracked the patients for up to 3 years to spot if they were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The different diabetes drugs utilized successful the survey included metformin, insulin, and older GLP-1 drugs similar liraglutide.

Using circumstantial statistical methods, they studied the clip it took for Alzheimer’s to beryllium diagnosed successful these patients, if astatine all. The survey recovered that patients prescribed semaglutide had a importantly little hazard of AD than those who had taken 1 of the 7 different diabetes drugs.

The astir notable quality with regards to AD incidence was seen betwixt patients who took semaglutide and those who took insulin, with semaglutide patients boasting a 70% little hazard of processing Alzheimer’s.

Semaglutide besides outperformed its predecessor liraglutide. The study’s elder writer Rong Xu, the manager of the Center for Artificial Intelligence successful Drug Discovery astatine Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine successful Ohio, speculated based connected this uncovering that much potent GLP-1 RA drugs mightiness person an adjacent stronger effect successful combating Alzheimer’s.

“If determination is simply a higher dose form, are we going to spot an adjacent stronger effect?” Xu said successful an interrogation to NBC.

Science down findings

The survey said GLP-1 RAs, a radical of cause which includes semaglutide, mightiness assistance support encephalon function. Early probe connected semaglutide identifies a fig of ways successful which it mightiness payment the encephalon specified arsenic lowering toxic effects of definite proteins linked to AD, improving however encephalon cells usage glucose for energy, and reducing the buildup of harmful plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s.

“Semaglutide reduces neuro-inflammation, which is commonly linked to Alzheimer’s. It helps stabilise humor sweetener levels, limiting oxidative accent oregon compartment harm and enhancing cellular energy. This enactment tin support neurons from degeneration, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and different neurodegenerative diseases,” Dr (Prof) M V Padma Srivastava,  chairperson, Neurology, Paras Health, Gurugram, told The Indian Express.

“The survey adds to our knowing of however humor glucose power via GLP-1 whitethorn connection brain-protective effects…[and] shows that effectual humor glucose absorption and inflammation power are captious successful Alzheimer’s progression,” she said.

Potential implications

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 2 treatments — Biogen’s Leqembi and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla — that marginally dilatory the progression of AD by targeting the disease’s hallmark amyloid plaques successful the brain. But these tin origin superior broadside effects, including encephalon swelling and encephalon bleeding. Traditionally, Alzheimer’s has been managed mostly utilizing cognitive and manner interventions.

This is what makes the latest research, which introduces a caller therapeutic pathway for treating Alzheimer, perchance ground-breaking. “By demonstrating that GLP-1 drugs tin mitigate immoderate hazard factors for Alzheimer’s, the survey suggests a dual-purpose usage for these drugs: managing diabetes and offering a preventive mechanics for dementia,” Dr Srivastava said.

For India, this is peculiarly significant. The state boasts among the highest planetary rates of benignant 2 diabetes, which is associated with a higher hazard of cognitive decline. This is due to the fact that benignant 2 diabetes results successful chronic insulin resistance, higher levels of inflammation, oxidative accent successful the encephalon — each of which pb to impaired glucose metabolism successful the brain, resulting successful cognitive diminution and neuron harm implicit time.

“GLP-1 drugs tin hold oregon trim dementia symptoms successful diabetic patients, frankincense offering a preventive strategy wherever fewer presently exist,” according to Dr Srivastava. “Since Alzheimer’s rates are besides rising among India’s ageing population, this probe could beryllium transformative,” she said.