Ozempic cuts risk of dementia, study suggests
Scientists at the University of Florida said that semaglutide in particular, whose brand names include Wegovy and Ozempic, showed promise in cutting the risk of conditions that impair memory and thought processes.
Experts said the study was encouraging and called for further research to shed light on how these drugs affect the brain.
A study by the University of Oxford in 2024 suggested that Ozempic could cut the risk of dementia by half.
Academics in the US analysed data from type 2 diabetes patients who were taking either GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which work by reducing food cravings, or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) which reduce the amount of glucose the kidneys re-absorb, allowing it to pass out of the body in urine.
GLP-1RAs is a class of medication that includes semaglutide as well as the brand Rybelus, which is taken as a tablet.
Wegovy was approved to tackle weight loss on the NHS in 2023, while Ozempic and Rybelus are available as treatments for type 2 diabetes.
The study included the health records of 396,963 people over 50 from January 2014 to June 2023.
Statistically significant results
All had type 2 diabetes but no diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).
Researchers compared those on GLP-1RAs, SGLT-2i and other, second-line glucose-lowering drugs.
The analysis found that 'both GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is were statistically significantly associated with decreased risk of ADRD compared with other GLDs, and no difference was observed between both drugs'.
Meanwhile, it was found that among the GLP-1RAs, 'semaglutide seems to be promising in reducing the risk of ADRD'.
'This finding is particularly intriguing given the existing research on semaglutide's neuroprotective properties,' researchers added.
Dr Leah Mursaleen, head of clinical research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'We don't know yet why these medicines may be offering a protective effect and will need more research to understand how they are affecting the brain.'
She added that while the findings were 'interesting', it was important to consider if other factors might be influencing results such as overall health, income or education.
Researchers in Ireland have suggested GLP-1RAs are 'associated with a statistically significant reduction in dementia '.
Their study analysed 26 clinical trials involving almost 165,000 patients to determine if drugs such as SGLT2is and GLP-1RAs, as well as diabetes medications metformin and pioglitazone, led to a reduction in risk of dementia or cognitive impairment.
It found most drugs 'were not associated with an overall reduction in all-cause dementia' although GLP-1RAs were associated with a 'statistically significant reduction'.
Both studies have been published in the journal Jama Neurology.
Track people for longer
Dr Richard Oakley, director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Whilst both of these studies found a link between GLP-1RAs and reduced dementia risk, only one found SGLT2is, another class of diabetes drug, were also associated with a reduced risk.
'More research is needed by tracking people for longer, especially as they get older.'
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said the data was 'encouraging'.
'But even within these two strong studies, there are slightly conflicting results over SGLT2is, highlighting the need for further research,' she said.
'It is important to note that these drugs do have side effects and they are not guaranteed to prevent dementia.
'The studies had important limitations including a relatively short follow-up time.'
Masud Husain, a professor of neurology and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Oxford, said: 'These analyses suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, might reduce the risk of developing dementia in people with type 2 diabetes.
'The wider question of whether such drugs might also be protective against dementia in people who don't have diabetes is a really intriguing one, and the focus of several ongoing clinical trials,' she added.
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What happens when you stop using Wegovy?
Weight regain and increased appetite are common after stopping Wegovy (semaglutide). Understanding the effects of stopping treatment is important to manage long-term weight loss expectations. Your doctor can help you stop Wegovy while still maintaining your weight management goals. Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist used for weight loss and weight management and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events. Stopping Wegovy, especially suddenly, can affect your body and weight management reading to learn what happens when you stop Wegovy to stop WegovyWegovy is meant to be a long-term medication for certain people with obesity or overweight. If you need to stop taking the medication for any reason, be sure to talk with your doctor about how to safely stop your treatment. You should not stop taking Wegovy suddenly, or 'cold turkey.'Your doctor can provide guidance on stopping Wegovy to help reduce the risk of certain effects. They can also adjust your diet and exercise regimen and help monitor your progress after stopping treatment. Following a personalized plan can help maintain the progress you achieved with effects of stopping WegovyStopping Wegovy treatment can have different effects. This is because GLP-1 levels will decrease after stopping the medication. And your GLP-1 levels will return to what's normal for your is a hormone that's involved in several processes, including blood sugar and insulin regulation, management of appetite and satiety, and protective cardiovascular effects. The active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, mimics the effects of GLP-1, which promotes weight loss and reduced appetite, among other effects.»Learn more about how Wegovy regainIf you've lost weight with Wegovy, stopping treatment may cause weight regain. This is sometimes called 'Ozempic rebound'. (Ozempic contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Wegovy, but it comes in smaller doses and is approved for different uses. Unlike Wegovy, Ozempic is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] for weight loss or weight management.)In a 2021 clinical trial, adults with overweight or obesity who used Wegovy for 20 weeks and then switched to a placebo (a treatment with no active drug) had a weight increase of nearly 7%. This was in comparison to adults who continued Wegovy treatment after 20 weeks and lost nearly 8% of their weight over the next 48 weeks of in a 2022 clinical trial, adults who stopped taking Wegovy after 68 weeks of Wegovy treatment regained two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year of stopping to these effects, Wegovy is typically taken long-term to maintain weight loss or weight management. If you have concerns about weight regain after stopping Wegovy, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the best course of action for of cardiovascular benefits and increased blood sugarStopping treatment with Wegovy may affect your risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke. For people taking Wegovy to reduce the risk of these events, the risk may return to original levels when Wegovy treatment was shown in a 2022 clinical trial, in which most cardiovascular benefits that adults experienced with Wegovy went back to baseline after stopping treatment for 1 year. (Here, baseline refers to the original level of cardiovascular risk before Wegovy treatment began.)If you stop treatment with Wegovy, you may experience the following cardiovascular symptoms: increased blood pressureincreased cholesterol levelsirregular heartbeatnausea and vomitingheadacheschest paindizzinessdifficulty breathingnosebleedsbuzzing in the earsvision changesconfusionanxietyAlso in the same study, prediabetes returned in some people who used Wegovy for 68 weeks and then stopped treatment. So if you have high blood sugar levels and stop using Wegovy, symptoms of your high blood sugar levels may return. These may include:weaknessfatigueblurry visionsweatinggum bleeding or skin infections that keep coming backslow wound healingDue to these effects, your doctor will likely suggest other ways to manage your risk of cardiovascular problems and high blood sugar levels. They may recommend taking certain other medications or other lifestyle withdrawal symptomsWithdrawal refers to experiencing side effects after you stop taking a substance that your body has become dependent on. Wegovy hasn't been specifically reported to cause dependence or withdrawal. (With dependence, your body needs a substance in order to function as usual.) However, people who stop Wegovy may experience certain symptoms due to their GLP-1 levels going back to normal. These symptoms may include:increased appetitereduced feeling of fullness changes in moodchanges in energy levels If you have concerns about these symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage them effectively while transitioning off Wegovy the weight off after stopping WegovyAfter stopping Wegovy, it's important to have a plan in place to help prevent weight gain or continue your weight management efforts. This can also help your overall health. Ways to help prevent weight gain include: maintaining a balanced diet with nutrient-dense foodssticking with your exercise routine or adjusting it based on your doctor's recommendationsstaying hydrated with water or low calorie beveragesgetting enough sleep managing stress levels monitoring your weight periodicallyYou can work with your doctor to develop a plan to keep the weight off after stopping Wegovy. Preliminary research has also shown that people taking semaglutide maintained weight loss by tapering (slowly lowering) their dosage before completely stopping treatment. So to help prevent weight regain, your doctor may slowly lower your Wegovy dosage before stopping the what happens when you stop using Wegovy is important to help prevent weight gain, continue long-term weight management efforts, and maintain cardiovascular health. By working closely with your doctor and adopting certain lifestyle habits, it's possible to safely and effectively stop Wegovy Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
