Semaglutide linked to a 40–70% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease — Fortune

In the United States, an analysis of electronic health records from nearly one million people with type 2 diabetes found an association between semaglutide prescriptions and a lower risk of a first diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. As Fortune reports, semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, which are used to treat diabetes and for weight loss.

Analysis of medical records

Scientists at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine analyzed medical records over three years. The results were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The researchers compared patients prescribed semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, with patients receiving one of seven other antidiabetic medications. The comparison drugs included metformin, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and other GLP-1 receptor agonists.

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Among patients prescribed semaglutide, the risk of a first diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was 40–70% lower than in groups receiving other antidiabetic medications.

Limitations of the conclusions

The study’s lead author, Professor of Biomedical Informatics Rong Xu, noted that diabetes itself is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the team studied specifically people with type 2 diabetes and compared outcomes among groups prescribed different medications.

The researchers emphasize that the data indicate an association but do not prove that semaglutide directly lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The authors point to the need for further research, including into the drug’s possible effect on people who have already been diagnosed with the disease.