Semaglutide: A Promising Ally Against Alzheimer’s?

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have identified a potential new benefit of semaglutide, a widely used diabetes and weight-loss drug. According to their findings, semaglutide may significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), outperforming seven other anti-diabetic medications.

Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating brain disorder that erodes memory and cognitive abilities, affects nearly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older, as reported by the Alzheimer’s Association. Alarmingly, it claims more lives annually than breast and prostate cancer combined.

Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the study suggests that T2D patients taking semaglutide had a markedly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This trend was consistent across various subgroups, regardless of obesity status, gender, or age.

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, is the active ingredient in popular medications like Wegovy and Ozempic. It works by reducing hunger and regulating blood sugar levels in T2D patients.

Under the leadership of Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics, the research team analyzed three years of electronic health records from nearly one million U.S. patients with T2D. Their statistical approach, which mimicked a randomized clinical trial, revealed that patients prescribed semaglutide had a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s compared to those on other anti-diabetic medications.

According to the CDC, Alzheimer’s disease results in approximately 120,000 deaths annually, ranking as the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.

“This new study provides real-world evidence for semaglutide’s potential impact on Alzheimer’s disease,” Xu stated. “While preclinical research has hinted at its protective effects against neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, our findings suggest the need for further exploration through randomized clinical trials.”

Despite these promising results, the study’s limitations prevent researchers from drawing definitive causal conclusions. Xu emphasized the importance of continued research into semaglutide’s potential as a treatment for this debilitating condition, encouraging further investigation into alternative drugs.

For more information, please contact Patty Zamora at patty.zamora@case.edu.