Ozempic Might Additionally Defend In opposition to Dementia, Stroke—and Even Dying

Primarily prescribed for sort 2 diabetes and weight reduction, drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound are additionally exhibiting promise in treating a variety of different situations, from sleep apnea to power kidney illness.

Now, a brand new examine revealed in JAMA Community Open means that for folks with weight problems and kind 2 diabetes, these medication—often called GLP-1 receptor agonists—might also scale back the danger of dying and decrease the possibilities of creating two brain-related situations: dementia and ischemic stroke.

Kind 2 diabetes and weight problems are “main drivers” of those situations, stated the examine’s first writer, Huan-Tang Lin, MD, PhD, an attending doctor and affiliate professor of anesthesiology at Chang Gung School of Medication in Taiwan.

“This extends [GLP-1s’] therapeutic scope from glycemic management, weight reduction, and cardiovascular management to direct neuro- and cerebrovascular safety,” Lin instructed Well being.

Researchers have beforehand discovered that GLP-1s could assist shield in opposition to dementia and stroke. However in keeping with the authors of the examine, “large-scale medical research evaluating their affiliation with neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular outcomes stay restricted, notably in high-risk sufferers with each sort 2 diabetes and weight problems.”

To assist fill the hole, researchers examined seven years’ value of well being knowledge from greater than 60,000 individuals, all of whom had sort 2 diabetes and weight problems. 

Some individuals had been taking diabetes medication like biguanides (resembling metformin), sulfonylureas, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors. Others had been prescribed the GLP-1s semaglutide or tirzepatide. (Semaglutide is the energetic ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus; tirzepatide is utilized in Mounjaro and Zepbound.)

After analyzing associations between the drugs and varied brain-related situations, the scientists found that individuals taking a GLP-1 had a:

37% decrease threat of dementia19% decrease threat of ischemic stroke (the most typical sort, brought on by a blocked blood vessel supplying the mind)30% decrease threat of dying from any trigger

The protecting impact in opposition to dementia was particularly pronounced in girls over 60 and people with a BMI between 30 and 40. “Sufferers on this window have an particularly highly effective alternative to bolster mind well being,” stated Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, a triple-board-certified doctor in inside drugs, way of life drugs, and weight problems drugs in Massachusetts.

In the meantime, GLP-1s didn’t seem to scale back the danger of Parkinson’s illness or hemorrhagic stroke, which might happen when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds within the mind.

The examine “provides to the rising physique of analysis suggesting GLP-1 receptor agonists are highly effective instruments—not only for weight reduction and diabetes, however doubtlessly for neurological well being and cognition as properly,” Garcia-Webb instructed Well being. 

Nonetheless, the analysis isn’t with out limitations. Like all observational examine, it reveals solely an affiliation—not causation. Life-style habits, reasonably than the GLP-1 drugs, might have influenced the outcomes, Lin famous.

As well as, researchers didn’t acquire biomarkers, genetic knowledge, or mind imaging, all of which might have provided extra perception into what’s truly occurring within the physique.

Lin emphasised that the findings “needs to be interpreted with warning” and confirmed in rigorously designed randomized managed trials earlier than informing medical suggestions.

Whereas the brand new examine doesn’t definitively show that GLP-1s scale back the danger of dementia and stroke, some analysis reveals how they could assist.

Scientists have discovered that GLP-1s scale back biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s illness and dementia, resembling amyloid-β peptide accumulation and neuroinflammation.

These drugs might also enhance blood vessel operate and assist stabilize plaque buildup within the arteries, which might decrease the possibility of an ischemic stroke. As a result of tirzepatide targets two hormones as a substitute of 1, it could improve these protecting results.

Weight reduction itself might also play a job.

“When folks lose a major quantity of weight, as many do on semaglutide and tirzepatide, it not solely reduces irritation and improves blood sugar, nevertheless it additionally permits them to have improved mobility and fewer mechanical joint stress,” Garcia-Webb stated. “Sufferers who can transfer and train extra comfortably and extra typically can additional enhance their cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychological well being.”