Ozempic could help reduce Alzheimer’s risk for some, study suggests: ‘Shifting the paradigm’

Semaglutide medications — specified arsenic Ozempic, the fashionable diabetes drug — person been linked to a reduced hazard of Alzheimer’s illness for definite groups.

A caller study, which was led by researchers astatine Case Western Reserve University successful Cleveland, Ohio, revealed that patients who were prescribed semaglutide had a "significantly little risk" of processing Alzheimer’s compared to those taking different types of anti-diabetic medications, according to a property release.

The researchers analyzed 3 years of aesculapian records for astir 1 cardinal benignant 2 diabetes patients successful the U.S. 

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The findings were published successful Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association connected Thursday.

Semaglutide medications person been linked to a reduced hazard of Alzheimer’s illness for definite groups. (iStock)

"Our survey provides promising real-world grounds suggesting that semaglutide could beryllium beneficial successful preventing oregon slowing down the improvement of AD," pb writer and biomedical informatics prof Rong Xu told Fox News Digital. 

"The underlying mechanisms stay unknown, and aboriginal mechanistic studies and objective trials are indispensable to corroborate the effects." 

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Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading origin of decease successful the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking astir 120,000 lives each year.

Unlocking imaginable benefits

Semaglutide, the progressive constituent successful Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, is simply a GLP-1 molecule that regulates humor sweetener successful diabetes patients. 

It is besides the progressive constituent successful Wegovy, Ozempic’s counterpart that is utilized to dainty obesity.

Semaglutide, the progressive constituent successful Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, is simply a GLP-1 molecule that regulates humor sweetener successful diabetes patients.  (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)

The findings suggest that determination could beryllium imaginable beneficial effects of semaglutide successful preventing oregon slowing down the improvement of Alzheimer’s successful high-risk populations, specified arsenic patients with type 2 diabetes, Xu noted.

"This tin supply immoderate guidance successful the prime of anti-diabetic medications for diabetes absorption and, astatine the aforesaid time, for preventing Alzheimer’s disease," she said. 

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Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a New York City weight-loss doctor, said she was not amazed by the study’s find of the other GLP-1 benefits.

"We cognize that GLP-1 drugs dainty insulin resistance, which has a affirmative interaction connected the full assemblage – cardiovascular health, neurovascular health, decreased hazard of changeable and better cognitive function," Decotiis, who was not progressive successful the research, told Fox News Digital.

Semaglutide is besides the progressive constituent successful Wegovy, Ozempic’s counterpart that is utilized to dainty obesity. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity doc who often prescribes Ozempic to his patients, said this survey reinforces however metabolic wellness influences neurodegeneration. 

"The transportation becomes adjacent much evident erstwhile considering the links betwixt obesity, chronic inflammation and conditions similar Alzheimer’s disease, often referred to arsenic ‘type 3 diabetes’ owed to its relation with insulin absorption successful the brain," Osborn, who besides was not progressive successful Case Western's research, told Fox News Digital.

"GLP-1s dainty insulin resistance, which has a affirmative interaction connected the full assemblage – including amended cognitive function."

In radical with diabetes, a byproduct of insulin absorption is an summation successful inflammation, Osborn noted, which is simply a "key driver" of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

"This suggests that effectual absorption of insulin absorption and systemic inflammation simplification whitethorn beryllium pivotal successful slowing oregon preventing neurodegenerative diseases," helium said.

‘Shifting the paradigm’

Osborn agrees that the preventive effects of GLP-1 drugs volition apt widen crossed assorted conditions. 

"These drugs volition yet beryllium employed not conscionable for diabetes, but arsenic preventative and therapeutic agents for astir each non-infectious age-related diseases, arsenic good arsenic conditions similar alcoholism and drug addiction," helium said.

In radical with diabetes, a byproduct of insulin absorption is an summation successful inflammation, which is simply a "key driver" of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, according to a doctor. (iStock)

While the survey doesn’t assertion that GLP-1s are a cure for Alzheimer’s, Osborn said, "It shifts the paradigm by addressing the underlying hazard factors for Alzheimer’s alternatively than conscionable its symptoms." 

"It suggests a much broad attack — 1 that tackles insulin resistance, obesity and inflammation," helium went on. 

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By improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation, these medications could supply nonstop benefits for not lone the brain, but the full body, helium suggested.

"After all, astir age-related conditions stock communal underpinnings and alteration lone by which portion of the assemblage is affected," Osborn said. "It’s simply a substance of geography."

Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading origin of decease successful the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking astir 120,000 lives each year. (iStock)

Decotiis said she expects to spot "more and much wide benefits" from utilizing this class of drugs, but that much studies are needed to beryllium that they dilatory the progression of Alzheimer’s.

"There needs to beryllium a wide denotation from the FDA to usage these drugs for Alzheimer’s specifically successful bid for them to beryllium covered by insurance," she added.

"Most age-related conditions stock communal underpinnings — it’s simply a substance of geography."

Xu reiterated that these findings "cannot beryllium utilized to warrant off-label medicine of semaglutide for Alzheimer’s illness prevention and treatment."

"For this to happen, randomized objective trials are necessary," she said.

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The researcher besides acknowledged that the survey had immoderate limitations.

"This is simply a retrospective cohort survey with inherent limitations related to uncontrolled oregon unmeasured confounding and biases," she said. 

"These drugs volition yet beryllium employed not conscionable for diabetes, but arsenic preventative and therapeutic agents for astir each non-infectious age-related diseases, arsenic good arsenic conditions similar alcoholism and cause addiction," a doc predicted. (iStock)

"Further probe into semaglutide’s usage volition request to beryllium further investigated done randomized objective trials truthful alternate drugs tin beryllium tested arsenic imaginable attraction for this debilitating illness."

The survey received backing from the National Institute connected Aging and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

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When contacted by Fox News Digital, Ozempic shaper Novo Nordisk issued the pursuing statement.

"Novo Nordisk welcomes autarkic probe investigating the safety, efficacy and objective inferior of our products."

A institution spokesperson besides stated that Novo Nordisk is conducting its ain probe into the effectiveness of oral semaglutide successful aboriginal Alzheimer’s disease, with expected completion successful 2025.