Recent research suggests that medications similar to Ozempic, specifically those containing liraglutide, may significantly reduce cognitive decline in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Paul Edison, a professor of neuroscience at Imperial College London, presented these findings, indicating a potential new avenue for treatment as the number of Alzheimer's cases is projected to nearly double by 2050.
Currently, approximately 7 million people in the United States are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a number set to increase to an estimated 13 million within the next few decades, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The urgency for effective treatments grows as existing drugs, such as Leqembi and Kisunla, only marginally slow disease progression by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain.
The study highlighted that liraglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 medications Saxenda and Victoza, reduced cognitive decline by up to 18% after one year in patients with mild Alzheimer's. Additionally, the research revealed that liraglutide led to nearly a 50% reduction in shrinkage of brain regions responsible for memory, learning, and decision-making.
Dr. Edison emphasized the importance of addressing multiple aspects of Alzheimer's disease rather than focusing solely on amyloid plaques. He stated, “If you want to have very effective treatment, what you need is not only targeting amyloid. You have to target other pathological forces, as well.”
The implications of this research extend beyond just one treatment option. Novo Nordisk is currently running two phase 3 clinical trials which will compare another GLP-1 drug, semaglutide—found in Ozempic and Wegovy—to a placebo in over 3,000 patients with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Semaglutide has previously shown promise in reducing dementia risk among patients with Type 2 diabetes, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's.
The results of these trials are anticipated to be released in 2025. Meanwhile, experts like Dr. Maria Carrillo, chief science officer at the Alzheimer's Association, express optimism about the potential of GLP-1 drugs. “I think the first thing out of the gate will be the GLP-1s,” she stated, highlighting their potential as a significant advancement in Alzheimer's treatment.
Dr. Alberto Espay, a neurologist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, echoed this sentiment, noting that if the findings are replicated in phase 3 trials, GLP-1 drugs could represent the first truly disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's. He remarked, “This looks promising. If this is replicated in a phase 3 trial, it could become the first truly disease-modifying treatment in Alzheimer’s disease.”
However, questions remain regarding how GLP-1 medications protect brain function and the extent of their effectiveness. Dr. Ronald Petersen emphasized that while these drugs may not directly target Alzheimer's defined by amyloid and tau presence, they could still offer important benefits through anti-inflammatory or cerebrovascular actions.
As many individuals with Alzheimer's also suffer from diabetes or obesity—conditions that adversely affect cognitive function—the combination treatment involving amyloid-targeting drugs and GLP-1 medications is likely already occurring in clinical practice. Dr. Petersen noted, “Any one of these factors, diabetes, obesity, all of these can have deleterious effects on cognitive functions. If you treat those underlying conditions, you make it a beneficial positive effect of cognitive function.”
The potential for GLP-1 drugs to contribute positively to Alzheimer’s treatment shows promise. Dr. Edison summarized the findings succinctly: “What we’ve shown is that these GLP-1s have great potential to be a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.” He further stated, “As a class of drugs, this holds great promise.”
Leave a Reply