Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic shows potential in reducing risk of Alzheimer’s

Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug, Ozempic, may have more to it than expected, as recently one of the latest studies revealed that it could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 40 percent to 70 percent among patients with Type 2 diabetes. Results of a chain of research studies by a team of medical researchers from Case Western Reserve University indicate that the chemically active substance in the above-mentioned medicine, semaglutide, showed at most 40 percent to 70 percent reduced chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease for the first time as against other medications used to treat diabetes.

The research finds its way out at a time when more focus is being brought upon the illness. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, almost 7 million Americans suffer from the illness, and by 2050, almost 13 million will probably be affected. No known cures for Alzheimer’s are established today. Only treatments exist which only alleviate symptoms and do not prevent the disease. Such new study points that semaglutide may be a preventative since it targets the alteration of the established risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes.

Lead author of the study is Dr. Rong Xu, who underscored the importance of early intervention in cases where many of these patients are diagnosed at times that may not permit this for this study, the authors reviewed nearly a million U.S. patients with diabetes who have never received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study includes semaglutide compared to seven other diabetes drugs-including insulin and metformin-with which it is being compared. Their use was associated with a 70% reduced risk in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s compared to insulin use, 60% reduced risk relative to metformin, and a reduction of 40% compared to other GLP-1 drugs. Patients on semaglutide also had significantly fewer prescriptions for Alzheimer’s-related medications.

While this study provides encouraging evidence of cognitive benefits from GLP-1 drugs, the study is limited in that it is an electronic health record. “These results should be confirmed by randomized clinical trials based on the findings here and elsewhere, and much more needs to be done on how GLP-1s play a role in Alzheimer’s prevention.”

The company has also kept a late-stage clinical trial under way to test the effect of semaglutide on Alzheimer’s patients. The GLP-1 drugs are not limited to Novo Nordisk. Other competitive companies like Eli Lilly also manufacture similar products for use beyond simple diabetes management. Emerging research strives toward a larger field of application for these drugs in the treatment of obesity and other diseases of the nervous system.