A recent study suggests that Type 2 diabetics may significantly lower their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by using Ozempic, a diabetes medication containing the active ingredient semaglutide. This medication mimics the body’s natural GLP-1 hormone, promoting feelings of fullness.
Research conducted by Case Western Reserve University analyzed three years of electronic health records from approximately 1 million Type 2 diabetic Americans who were free of Alzheimer's at the study's start. The findings indicate that semaglutide is associated with a 40% to 70% reduction in the risk of a first-time Alzheimer's diagnosis, particularly when compared to insulin and other anti-diabetes medications.
Chronic inflammation, often observed in Alzheimer's patients, can be exacerbated by high blood sugar levels that damage brain blood vessels. Semaglutide's weight loss effects may help mitigate this inflammation, as it activates T cells, which are crucial for immune response.
The results, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, highlight the need for further randomized clinical trials to explore semaglutide's potential as a treatment for Alzheimer's. Currently, nearly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with the disease, which is responsible for about 120,000 deaths annually.
Ozempic was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for Type 2 diabetes treatment, with its effectiveness for weight loss recognized in 2021. Novo Nordisk, the drug's manufacturer, is also conducting clinical trials on semaglutide's effects on early Alzheimer's, with results expected next year.