Last month, new research was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia that is big news when it comes to dementia prevention . The findings are part of a study that has not been written about in medical journals yet. Researchers found that liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist similar to Ozempic and Wegovy, could cut the risk of dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes by as much as 50%.
How could weight loss and diabetes management medication lower the risk of dementia? We talked to doctors specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia to learn more.
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The Latest Scientific Findings on Weight Loss Medications and Dementia
It bears repeating that the new research mentioned at the Alzheimer’s conference has not been published in a medical journal yet. Here’s what is known about the research based on what was presented at the conference: Presented by Dr. Paul Edison, PhD, a professor of neuroscience at Imperial College London, the research focused on liraglutide, the active ingredient in the medications Saxenda (used for weight loss) and Victoza (used to help treat type 2 diabetes).
In the study, 200 people were either given an injection of liraglutide or a placebo and doctors compared the two groups after one year. The participants given liraglutide had reduced brain atrophy by almost 50% and had less cognitive decline than the participants who took the placebo.
The reason why the research is garnering attention in the medical community is that liraglutide (as well as semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) has not traditionally been used to prevent or treat cognitive decline. “Liraglutide is an older medication of this class that was released back in 2010. It helps lower blood sugar levels and has been shown to decrease risk of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal heart attacks and nonfatal strokes,” explains Dr. Stacey E. Podkovik, MD, FACS, FAANS , a neurosurgeon and the co-founder of JellyMed.
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Dr. Podkovik says the new research is from a well-designed, credible study. He says that although the exact effects of liraglutide on the brain are yet to be determined, one hypothesis is that it helps slow the progression of dementia because it helps lower inflammation.
While the study does not specify whether the participants have obesity or not, liraglutide is used for weight loss, which is noteworthy because obesity is linked to a higher risk of dementia . “Obesity is a disease that unfortunately has a plethora of downstream effects that can significantly affect one’s health. Obesity can very commonly lead to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and leads people to be in states of chronic inflammation. This decreases the body’s ability to recover from the normal daily wear of aging on our bodies,” Dr. Podkovik says. “Alzheimer’s is a disease which leads to an accumulation of plaques within our brain and surrounding inflammation. Patients that have disease states that induce chronic inflammation, are less resilient to the deleterious changes induced by Alzheimer’s.”
Because of the connection between obesity and increased risk of dementia, Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, MD, a geriatrician and dementia expert, says that if it helps lower one’s obesity, a lowered risk of dementia may follow.
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Are Weight Loss Drugs the Future of Dementia Prevention?
For people with obesity, Dr. Landsverk says that a weight loss medication such as liraglutide or semaglutide can be a beneficial tool for lowering their risk of many chronic conditions. However, there is another way to lower the risk of dementia she recommends to everyone, whether they have obesity or not: following a plant-based diet.
To Dr. Landsverk’s point, scientific research does show a connection by eating a plant-based diet and better cognitive function. The Mediterranean diet, a form of eating that prioritizes plants but also includes fish, is also linked to a reduced risk of dementia. Dr. Landsverk explains that the reason for this is because this way of eating reduces inflammation in the body, including in the brain.
While weight loss and type 2 diabetes drugs can truly be life-changing for many people, Dr. Landsverk points out that these drugs are expensive and some people experience adverse side effects. What’s more, if someone takes one of these drugs but doesn’t actually need it, they could get sick.
Dr. Landsverk advocates for focusing on what is in one’s control when it comes to lowering their risk of dementia, which includes eating a nutrient-rich diet, getting regular exercise, not smoking and minimizing alcohol use.
While the new research is interesting, Dr. Podkovik says it’s important to remember that more research needs to be done confirming a connection between liraglutide and a lower risk of dementia. “If the evidence continues to support the protective effects of liraglutide and other GLP-1s, it is likely that these medications can be used in a lot of people that have mild and even possible severe dementia. However, it is important to note that the study did not evaluate the effects of these medications on people without medically confirmed dementia,” he says.
What’s clear is that more research needs to be done. In the meantime, focusing on integrating healthy habits into your routine can go a long way in supporting your brain health now and for years to come.
Next up: Here's Exactly What the Flexitarian Diet Is—and How It Compares to Other Plant-Based Eating Plans
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