A groundbreaking study has found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in the diabetes drug Ozempic and the weight-loss injection Wegovy, may significantly reduce the risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, analyzed nearly 1.7 million electronic health records over three years to investigate semaglutide’s impact on dementia risk.
Dementia arises when brain cells are damaged, interrupting their connections and causing cognitive decline. This damage can result from several modifiable factors, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Previous research suggests that addressing these risk factors could prevent up to 45% of dementia cases.
The study highlights that patients on semaglutide exhibited a notably lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia compared to those using seven other anti-diabetic drugs. The effect was especially pronounced in women and older adults. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, not only curbs appetite and regulates blood sugar but also shows promise in reducing cardiovascular complications.
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Lead researcher Professor Rong Xu emphasized the significance of these real-world findings: “With no current cure or effective treatment for dementia, this study offers encouraging evidence that semaglutide might help prevent or slow dementia progression in high-risk populations.” However, she cautions that while the results are promising, more rigorous randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm semaglutide’s protective effects against dementia.
This study opens a promising avenue for protecting brain health in people living with type 2 diabetes, offering hope for reducing the burden of dementia through existing medications.