However, patients taking those drugs tend to see only modest reductions in cognition loss.
The other way is to have a single drug, which can have multiple effects.
Thats where the [GLP-1s] come in, Edison added.
Photo Illustration by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images
It typically takes a trial of thousands of people to establish such an outcome.
That study is on its way.
But there are other factors that are somewhat within a persons control.
People with a higherbody mass indexare at higher risk of strokes.
But not all strokes are big ones.
Can Gut Hormones Affect Your Brain?
GLP-1 is a gut hormone that helps to control insulin secretion and how sugars are processed in the body.
That could mean that liraglutide helps slow Alzheimers progression for reasons other than its effect on insulin resistance.
That may very well be the reason why we didnt see the change in the glucose metabolism.
They will be the biggest and most significant trials of GLP-1 drugs in Alzheimers patients to date.
The study tests an oral form of semaglutide, the drug sold as Wegovy and Ozempic.
Notably, it wasnt required that participants have obesity to participate.
Because it is now orally available, it will be quite easy to administer with relatively minimal side effects.
Drugmaker Novo Nordisk said it expects to share results of the study this year.
Researchers are testing that theory now in a study of Leqembi.
Budson said the results could inform the use of GLP-1 drugs, too.
There could be a future where a 60-year-old takes a blood test to screen for signs of Alzheimers disease.
If the test is positive, a clinician may prescribe a treatment before that patient develops symptoms.
Im quite hopeful that these studies, like the Ahead study, are going to end up being positive.
I think that will change everything.
2024;20(12):8661-8672. doi:10.1002/alz.14313
Alzheimers Association.GLP-1 drug liraglutide may protect against dementia.
BioSpace.Novos semaglutide linked to reduced Alzheimers risk in real-world study.
2025;17(1):14. doi:10.1186/s13195-024-01666-7
