Ozempic could have surprising benefit for people with diabetes

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Semaglutide medicines — akin to Ozempic, the favored diabetes drug — have been linked to a diminished threat of Alzheimer’s illness for sure teams.

A brand new examine, which was led by researchers at Case Western Reserve College in Cleveland, Ohio, revealed that sufferers who had been prescribed semaglutide had a “considerably decrease threat” of creating Alzheimer’s in comparison with these taking different varieties of anti-diabetic medications, in keeping with a press launch.

The researchers analyzed three years of medical information for almost a million sort 2 diabetes sufferers within the U.S. 

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The findings had been printed in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Affiliation on Thursday.

Overweight patient at doctor

Semaglutide medicines have been linked to a diminished threat of Alzheimer’s illness for sure teams. (iStock)

“Our examine offers promising real-world proof suggesting that semaglutide may very well be useful in stopping or slowing down the event of AD,” lead writer and biomedical informatics professor Rong Xu advised Fox Information Digital. 

“The underlying mechanisms stay unknown, and future mechanistic research and scientific trials are vital to verify the consequences.” 

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Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading explanation for dying within the U.S., in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, taking round 120,000 lives annually.

Unlocking potential advantages

Semaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, is a GLP-1 molecule that regulates blood sugar in diabetes sufferers. 

It is usually the energetic ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic’s counterpart that’s used to deal with weight problems.

Ozempic

Semaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, is a GLP-1 molecule that regulates blood sugar in diabetes sufferers.  (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Picture)

The findings recommend that there may very well be potential useful results of semaglutide in stopping or slowing down the event of Alzheimer’s in high-risk populations, akin to sufferers with type 2 diabetes, Xu famous.

“This could present some steerage within the selection of anti-diabetic medicines for diabetes administration and, on the identical time, for stopping Alzheimer’s illness,” she mentioned. 

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Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a New York Metropolis weight-loss physician, mentioned she was not stunned by the examine’s discovery of the additional GLP-1 advantages.

“We all know that GLP-1 medication deal with insulin resistance, which has a optimistic impression on the entire physique – cardiovascular well being, neurovascular well being, decreased threat of stroke and better cognitive function,” Decotiis, who was not concerned within the analysis, advised Fox Information Digital.

wegovy injections

Semaglutide can also be the energetic ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic’s counterpart that’s used to deal with weight problems. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs)

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity physician who usually prescribes Ozempic to his sufferers, mentioned this examine reinforces how metabolic well being influences neurodegeneration. 

“The connection turns into much more obvious when contemplating the hyperlinks between weight problems, power irritation and situations like Alzheimer’s disease, also known as ‘sort 3 diabetes’ resulting from its affiliation with insulin resistance within the mind,” Osborn, who additionally was not concerned in Case Western’s analysis, advised Fox Information Digital.

“GLP-1s deal with insulin resistance, which has a optimistic impression on the entire physique – together with higher cognitive perform.”

In folks with diabetes, a byproduct of insulin resistance is a rise in irritation, Osborn famous, which is a “key driver” of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

“This implies that efficient administration of insulin resistance and systemic irritation discount could also be pivotal in slowing or stopping neurodegenerative illnesses,” he mentioned.

‘Shifting the paradigm’

Osborn agrees that the preventive results of GLP-1 medication will seemingly lengthen throughout numerous situations. 

“These medication will finally be employed not only for diabetes, however as preventative and therapeutic brokers for almost all non-infectious age-related illnesses, in addition to situations like alcoholism and drug addiction,” he mentioned.

Diabetes - checking blood sugar

In folks with diabetes, a byproduct of insulin resistance is a rise in irritation, which is a “key driver” of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, in keeping with a health care provider. (iStock)

Whereas the examine doesn’t declare that GLP-1s are a treatment for Alzheimer’s, Osborn mentioned, “It shifts the paradigm by addressing the underlying threat components for Alzheimer’s quite than simply its signs.” 

“It suggests a extra complete method — one which tackles insulin resistance, weight problems and irritation,” he went on. 

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By bettering insulin sensitivity and lowering irritation, these medicines may present direct advantages for not solely the brain, however your complete physique, he recommended.

“In any case, most age-related situations share frequent underpinnings and range solely by which a part of the physique is affected,” Osborn mentioned. “It’s merely a matter of geography.”

Dementia prevention. Elderly woman hands doing jigsaw puzzle at home, panorama, close up

Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading explanation for dying within the U.S., in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, taking round 120,000 lives annually. (iStock)

Decotiis mentioned she expects to see “increasingly more widespread advantages” from utilizing this class of medication, however that extra research are wanted to show that they gradual the development of Alzheimer’s.

“There must be a transparent indication from the FDA to make use of these medication for Alzheimer’s particularly to ensure that them to be coated by insurance coverage,” she added.

“Most age-related situations share frequent underpinnings — it’s merely a matter of geography.”

Xu reiterated that these findings “can’t be used to justify off-label prescription of semaglutide for Alzheimer’s illness prevention and therapy.”

“For this to occur, randomized scientific trials are vital,” she mentioned.

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The researcher additionally acknowledged that the examine had some limitations.

“It is a retrospective cohort examine with inherent limitations associated to uncontrolled or unmeasured confounding and biases,” she mentioned. 

Seniors Ozempic split

“These medication will finally be employed not only for diabetes, however as preventative and therapeutic brokers for almost all non-infectious age-related illnesses, in addition to situations like alcoholism and drug habit,” a health care provider predicted. (iStock)

“Additional analysis into semaglutide’s use will have to be additional investigated by randomized clinical trials so various medication could be examined as potential therapy for this debilitating sickness.”

The examine obtained funding from the Nationwide Institute on Growing older and the Nationwide Heart for Advancing Translational Sciences.

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When contacted by Fox Information Digital, Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk issued the next assertion.

“Novo Nordisk welcomes unbiased analysis investigating the protection, efficacy and scientific utility of our merchandise.”

An organization spokesperson additionally said that Novo Nordisk is conducting its personal analysis into the effectiveness of oral semaglutide in early Alzheimer’s illness, with anticipated completion in 2025.

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