Ozempic May Be Linked to Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s in People with Type 2 Diabetes

Mar. 15, 2025

Ozempic.Photo:Joel Saget/AFP/Getty

Joel Saget/AFP/Getty

Certain classes of weight loss drugs may have positive effects on the brain, according to a recent study.

Published inAlzheimer’s & Dementiaon Thursday, Oct. 24, the study found that semaglutide — the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs likeOzempicand Wegovy — may be linked to lower risks of Alzheimer’s disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

The study compared the three-year outcome of over one million patients withtype 2 diabetesover the age of 60 who had been prescribed semaglutide, insulin or one of several other common diabetes medications.

Researchers found that the participants who were prescribed semaglutide incurred lower rates of Alzheimer’s when compared to the participants taking other drugs. Results were consistent regardless of participant weight, age and gender.

The results were most pronounced when researchers compared semaglutide toinsulin. The participant group on semaglutide had a 70% lower risk of Alzheimer’s when compared to the group taking insulin.

These new findings add to already existing research that GLP-1 drugs — the class of drugs that include medications, like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound — could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and even slow the progression of the disease in people who do not have type 2 diabetes.

While the study has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, Dr. Edison presented his initial findings at theAlzheimer’s Association International Conferencethis past summer.

“What we’ve shown is that these GLP-1s have great potential to be a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Edison at the conference, according toNBC News. “As a class of drugs, this holds great promise.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While initial research is promising, experts also stress that more research must be done to fully understand the link between drugs like Ozempic and brain health — if there is any at all.

“We should be cautious about claiming semaglutide can treat or prevent Alzheimer’s based on this study alone,” said Dr. Alberto Espay, a neurologist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, in a statement toNBC Newson Thursday.

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes both Ozempic and Wegovy, said it will runtwo upcoming trialsto further study the potential positive effects of semaglutide on patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s.

source: people.com