Weight-Loss Medication Don’t Seem to Work Towards Alzheimer’s

[ad_1] GLP-1 medication like Wegovy and Zepbound have been racking up gross sales and new indications, as researchers be taught extra about how the medication have an effect on the physique past simply weight reduction.

However one of many extra anticipated research exploring how they affect Alzheimer’s illness has discovered no significant impact, Novo Nordisk mentioned in a press launch on Nov. 24

The corporate, which makes semaglutide (offered as Wegovy for weight reduction and Ozempic for diabetes), mentioned that its drug didn't present any extra profit over placebo in two trials of individuals with early Alzheimer’s. The corporate is planning to launch extra information at a presentation on the Scientific Trials on Alzheimer’s Illness convention in early December and on the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Illnesses conferences in March 2026.

The 2-year examine included greater than 3,800 folks with gentle cognitive impairment or gentle dementia on account of Alzheimer’s, half of whom had been randomly assigned to take a semaglutide capsule each day, and half of whom took placebo. The corporate mentioned that individuals receiving the drug did present enhancements in sure organic measures of Alzheimer’s illness, however that these modifications didn't translate into slower illness development as measured by an ordinary take a look at of a number of areas of cognitive capacity, together with reminiscence, downside fixing, sociability, and self-care. Specialists are ready for extra detailed information on the outcomes to know whether or not the enhancements in markers of the illness could possibly be early indicators of potential profit, particularly if mixed with different methods like habits modifications and at the moment out there drugs.

Learn Extra: The Heavy Value of Utilizing Weight-Loss Medication to Get Skinny

Researchers had been hopeful that the weight-loss medication would possibly have an effect on Alzheimer’s, since irritation contributes to the neurodegenerative illness and the medication appear to have an anti-inflammatory impact. Research in animal fashions, in addition to observational research of individuals taking the drug to deal with diabetes or weight achieve, hinted that the drug could sluggish the advance of Alzheimer’s.

New Alzheimer’s therapies are wanted, since at the moment solely two—lecanemab (from Eisai) and donanemab (from Lilly)—handle the foundation causes of Alzheimer’s. Each work by attacking the buildup of amyloid plaques within the mind and might sluggish illness development by as much as 30% for folks with mild-to-moderate illness. “These outcomes will assist us refine our understanding of this class of medication,” mentioned Maria Carrillo, chief science officer and medical affairs lead for the Alzheimer’s Affiliation, in an announcement. “Although this semaglutide capsule didn't assist in opposition to Alzheimer’s, the sphere will proceed to analyze this class of medication, as they might act in a different way.”

Eli Lilly, which makes the opposite drug within the class, tirzepatide, has not mentioned whether or not it plans to review its product’s impact on Alzheimer’s.