A drug known to treat type 2 diabetes, Ozempic, could also have important benefits for Alzheimer’s patients, researchers say.
Ozempic. Photo: Tania Baboi
Recent studies suggest that semaglutide – the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy (for weight loss) – could slow the progression of dementia and have a positive impact on patients with advanced Alzheimer’s, according to telegraph.co.uk.
Reducing inflammation, a key factor in fighting neurodegenerative diseases
Semaglutide is already used to protect against serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Experts believe that its primary role in fighting inflammation in the body, a common feature of many conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, could be the key to dementia treatments.
Researchers around the world are currently pursuing a trial involving 3,680 Alzheimer’s patients in the early stages, and the results will be available next year. However, there is already promising evidence from previous studies. Patients with type 2 diabetes who take Ozempic appear to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and experience fewer symptoms of the disease when it occurs.
An American study of over a million people with type 2 diabetes showed that people treated with semaglutide had up to a 70% reduced risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s within the next three years.
The link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s
Type 2 diabetes is already known to be a major risk factor for dementia, affecting brain metabolism. At a discussion organized by Alzheimer’s Disease International, experts pointed out that drugs of the GLP-1 class (including semaglutide) could represent hope for patients with advanced forms of Alzheimer’s.
Jeff Cummings, professor of brain and health sciences, said: “We need to start with more advanced patients. I think we need to develop drugs for them. Every patient with early disease will eventually reach advanced stages, and we need to find a way to slow the progression of the disease to advanced stages.”
Cummings pointed out that drugs originally developed for milder forms of Alzheimer’s have sometimes been effective in advanced stages of the disease. He gave the example of donepezil, a drug widely used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, which was initially tested for mild and moderate forms of the disease, but later proved effective in severe cases as well.
The promise of more affordable treatments
Another attraction of semaglutide is its relatively low price compared to other drugs used for Alzheimer’s. However, there are risks associated with the use of GLP-1 drugs in the elderly, especially those with dementia, as they can reduce appetite and cause muscle wasting, which increases the risk of falls.
Dr. Jacqui Hanley, Head of Research Funding at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It is encouraging to see large trials exploring whether already approved drugs can be reconfigured for the treatment of dementia. Because these drugs are already considered safe, the testing process in clinical trials could be accelerated and costs could be significantly lower.”
Hanley also pointed out that about a third of the drugs in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s are already being used for other conditions. “If we want to find a cure for dementia, we need to develop a set of drugs that address different aspects of the disease and that can be used in combination.”she added.
The future of Alzheimer’s treatments
Currently, two drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, have been approved to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in the UK. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has refused to fund them, arguing that they do not offer good value for money.
However, interest in the use of drugs such as semaglutide in Alzheimer’s treatments continues to grow, given their potential to reduce the risks and costs of traditional treatments, offering new hope for patients dealing with this devastating disease.
