Weight Loss Drugs: A New Ally Against Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is affecting more people than ever, and finding ways to reduce the risk is a big focus of research. Recently, studies have started to look at how weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, often used for diabetes and obesity, might also help lower the risk of Alzheimer's. In this article, we’ll dive into the latest findings and what they could mean for Alzheimer’s prevention.

Weight Loss Drugs & Alzheimer’s Risk

Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects a person’s memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a progressive condition that typically affects people over the age of 65. 

Over time, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease become severe enough to interfere with daily life. There is no proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and no cure for it, but medications can slow the decline in cognitive function. 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This number is projected to rise to 13 million by 2050. AD is the seventh leading cause of death nationally.

Weight Loss Drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound)

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a group of drugs that are used to manage blood glucose (sugar) levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition to their roles as anti-diabetic drugs, some of these GLP-1 agonists are approved to treat obesity and other medical conditions such as heart disease and sleep apnea. GLP-1 agonists mimic the effects of the hormone GLP-1, which plays several roles in the body. It stimulates insulin release and slows stomach emptying, thereby increasing feelings of fullness after eating. Most GLP-1 agonist medications are administered as injections, specifically given as subcutaneous (under the skin) shots.

GLP-1s are a relatively new class of drugs and researchers are still learning about their health benefits as well as their risks. 

GLP-1 drugs currently available in the U.S. include:

• Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)

• Dulaglutide (Trulicity)

• Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)

• Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)

• Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)

Compare Rybelsus vs Ozempic.

A similar class of drugs is called dual glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. Tirzepatide (brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound) is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist currently available on the market. 

Connection Between Diabetes, Obesity, and Alzheimer’s

Diabetes and obesity are common metabolic disorders and are strongly linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have found that obesity and diabetes can lead to amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in brain cells, which are characteristic signs of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Studies suggest that obese or diabetic patients are at an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. This risk factor is believed to be linked to several aspects, including: 

• Insulin resistance

• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels)

• Chronic neuroinflammation 

• Oxidative stress

• Vascular impairment (damage to blood vessels)

• Dysregulation of adipokines (proteins produced by fat cells that regulate various bodily functions, including appetite, fat storage, fat and glucose metabolism, immune response, and blood pressure).

Scientists believe that weight loss and effectively managing diabetes can protect against Alzheimer’s disease by lowering the associated risks linked to diabetes and obesity.

Search For Savings On Weight Loss Drugs

Research on Weight Loss Drugs Reducing Alzheimer’s Risk

New research by scientists at Washington University in St. Louis has been published recently. This was an observational study which compared people taking GLP-1s with those taking usual anti-diabetic drugs. The researchers found that GLP-1 drugs are associated with a reduced risk of neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

In addition, they found GLP-1s result in a reduced risk of substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, seizure disorders, coagulation disorders, infectious diseases, cardiometabolic disorders, and respiratory conditions.

On the flip side, GLP-1s are linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders, arthritis, low blood pressure, fainting, drug-induced pancreatitis, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and interstitial nephritis. 

Key Data and Statistics from Clinical Trials

The research team at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine analyzed the electronic medical records of nearly 1 million patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Researchers found that patients with type 2 diabetes who are taking semaglutide (Ozempic) have a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to seven other anti-diabetic drugs. 

Semaglutide was found to be associated with a 40-70% reduced risk of first-time Alzheimer’s diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to other antidiabetic medications, including other GLP-1 receptor agonists. These results are consistent across different subgroups, including age, gender, and obesity status. 

Experts say that while the results of the new observational study are promising, further research is needed to say whether semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) is a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Mechanisms Behind Cognitive Decline Reduction

Biological Impact of GLP-1 Drugs on the Brain

As mentioned, GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic) mimic the effects of a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1. This hormone, GLP-1, is secreted by cells in the intestines and also by brain cells. 

Researchers have found that GLP-1 acts on neurons (brain cells) in the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory. GLP-1 promotes neurogenesis (formation of new brain cells) and has a neuroprotective effect.

What Does Ozempic Do To Your Brain?

Laboratory experiments in mice have shown that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, improves cognition by decreasing inflammation, reducing cell damage, and preventing the death of neurons in the hippocampal region of the brain.

Other Treatments For Alzheimer’s Disease

Available treatments for Alzheimer’s disease include disease-modifying drugs, such as:

• Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine)

• N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists (memantine)

These drugs slow the rate of progression of Alzheimer’s disease and help to preserve cognitive function.

One of the key features of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia is a build-up of proteins called tau and beta amyloid in brain cells. Researchers have found that a drug called lonafarnib may reduce the build-up of tau in mice and decrease brain shrinkage. Further studies are needed to understand its effects on the human brain.

On the other hand, anti-amyloid drugs for Alzheimer’s treatment, such as monoclonal antibodies like lecanemab and aducanumab, may lead to brain shrinkage. This brain shrinkage is thought to result from the rapid removal of amyloid plaques. 

Find Savings On Alzheimer's Treatments

Clinical Implications for Healthcare Professionals

Qualifications for Weight Management Medications

Semaglutide (Wegovy) injection is approved for adults and children 12 years of age and older with obesity (body mass index or BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher) or adults who are overweight (BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher) who have at least one weight-related medical problem, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, to use in addition to diet and exercise.

Tirzepatide (Zepbound) injection is approved for adults with obesity (BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher) or overweight (BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher) with at least one weight-related condition to use in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.  

Learn more about Ozempic for weight loss.

Benefits for Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Semaglutide (Ozempic) is approved to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, in addition to diet and exercise. Ozempic is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and known heart disease. 

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is approved to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, to be used along with diet and exercise. 

Implications for Broader Alzheimer’s Treatment Strategies

Data from recent studies has shown that GLP-1 drugs may help to protect against cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. However, further research is needed before this therapeutic class can be added to the arsenal of medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s.

Patient and Caregiver Insights

Understanding GLP-1 Drug Effects and Side Effects

Like most medications, GLP-1s have benefits but also carry the risk of adverse effects, including some serious side effects. Here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of these medications to aid decision-making:

Guidance for Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients

If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, when considering new drugs as potential treatments, it is important to have open communication with the healthcare provider. This can help you understand current research findings, the potential benefits of new Alzheimer’s treatments, and the risks of new medications. If your loved one has been started on a new or experimental drug, it can help you closely monitor them for side effects. It’s important to know that many new drugs may not completely cure Alzheimer’s disease but can potentially slow its progression and improve quality of life. 

Questions and Discussions on Alzheimer’s and Weight Loss Drugs

Current Stage of Understanding Alzheimer’s & Weight Loss Drugs

An observational study in more than 1 million patients with type 2 diabetes has found that weight loss medications, including the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy) and the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound), may have beneficial effects in Alzheimer’s disease. These drugs could potentially lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and slow its progression. However, further research is needed to fully understand these effects. Experts also warn that while there are beneficial effects, GLP-1 drugs are not without risks. 

It is worth noting that being obese or overweight is a risk factor for dementia. However, unintentional weight loss is common in patients with dementia and is linked to cognitive impairment and poorer disease outcomes. Therefore, weight loss medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, need to be studied carefully to understand their long-term effects in dementia patients.

The manufacturer of semaglutide, Novo Nordisk, has sponsored a placebo-controlled interventional trial (EVOKE) comparing the effects of semaglutide to placebo (dummy medicine) on early Alzheimer’s disease. The results are expected to be available in 2026.

New Treatments for Alzheimer’s

There have been a few new drugs approved in recent years for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. While having more treatment options is encouraging for those with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones, these medications have side effects and are only effective in the early stages of the condition. Some of the new treatments for Alzheimer’s include:

• Lecanemab-irmb (Leqembi)

• Donanemab-azbt (Kisunla)

• Aducanumab (Evolucumab) — not widely used due to limited efficacy and significant safety concerns. 

Drugs being studied in clinical trials include:

• Remturnetug by Eli Lilly is still under investigation, expecting results from Phase III clinical trials in the coming years 

• Buntanetap by Annovis Bio is in Phase III clinical trials

• Semaglutide (a tablet form)’s clinical trial results are expected in late 2025

Addressing Concerns

What Stage of Alzheimer's Is Weight Loss?

The intermediate and advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease are frequently associated with weight loss, but weight loss can sometimes occur even before the onset of cognitive symptoms.

What Are The Prescription Drugs Linked To Alzheimer's?

Studies have shown that benzodiazepines and anticholinergics are associated with an increased risk of dementia. The risk increases with higher doses and longer duration of use. 

Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Anticholinergics are prescribed for a wide range of conditions, including allergies, colds, high blood pressure, urinary incontinence, and depression.