If you’re not familiar with the GLP-1 agonist, Ozempic was first approved in 2017 as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes —but it skyrocketed in popularity years later thanks to its dramatic weight loss effects. Since then, research has linked the popular weight loss medication to a lower risk of heart attacks, better kidney health and even a reduced risk of developing 10 obesity-related cancers.
However, that study was observational, relying on existing medical records—so it couldn’t prove cause and effect. Which raises the big question: Does Ozempic actually protect the brain, or not?
Fast forward to now, and we may finally have an answer. Two new studies published earlier this week analyzed data from dozens of trials involving hundreds of thousands of participants—and the findings offer compelling evidence that drugs like semaglutide (the generic name for Ozempic and Wegovy) may help protect against dementia.
The first JAMA Neurology study reviewed 26 randomized clinical trials—the gold standard for science experiments—to study people's risk of cognitive decline when taking diabetes drugs. In total, the trials recruited 164,531 people with Type 2 diabetes who were assigned GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide or an SGLT2 inhibitor to lower blood sugar levels or a placebo. At the start of the trials, none of the participants had been diagnosed with cognitive decline or dementia. The average age was 64.4 years, and women made up 34.9% of the study group.
The second JAMA Neurologystudy took a closer look at how Alzheimer’s risk differed between people taking SGLT2 inhibitors and those using GLP-1 agonists. Researchers analyzed health records from more than 30,000 adults aged 50 and older who were on diabetes medications, none of whom had a prior diagnosis of dementia or had received any anti-dementia treatment.
"Based on what they saw in those trials, there was a hint that these newer medications, like Ozempic, like Mounjaro, may reduce the risk of dementia in people who are on those drugs," Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS news medical contributor told "CBS Mornings" on Tuesday.
How Does Ozempic Protect the Brain Against Cognitive Decline?
The two studies did not directly investigate how GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic affect the brain. However, they have theories on what might and might not be happening. First, it's unlikely Ozempic is protecting against dementia by controlling blood sugar levels, since the studies showed not all blood-sugar-lowering medications reduced dementia risk.
Another possible way these drugs protect the brain is by supporting heart health. About one in four people with heart disease face a higher risk of developing dementia, and nearly 50% experience cognitive decline after a heart attack. According to the study authors, GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors may help reduce that risk thanks to their antioxidant effects—which protect against cell damage, improve cholesterol levels and prevent plaque buildup in blood vessels.
Before considering Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs for brain health, there’s one important caveat: everyone in the two studies had Type 2 diabetes.
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Sources
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and 13 Obesity-Associated Cancers in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. JAMA Network Open.Cardioprotective Glucose-Lowering Agents and Dementia Risk A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Neurology.GLP-1RA and SGLT2i Medications for Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias. JAMA Neurology.Could some popular weight loss drugs help protect against dementia? CBS News.GLP-1 programs the neurovascular landscape. Cell Metabolism.Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Stroke. Read More Details
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