THEY are the drugs that have taken 2024 by storm – and now weight loss injections could come with yet more added benefits.
So-called skinny jabs – that were initially designed as treatment for type 2 diabetes, could lower the risk of the most prevalent form of dementia.
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Since exploding on to the weight loss scene, Wegovy in the UK and it’s cousin Ozempic (only approved for weight loss in the US) have been found to come with extra beneficial side effects, according to various studies.
They range from lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, depression and anxiety as well as slowing down the ageing process to helping combat addiction to booze and drugs.
And now, scientists in the US have found another pro to the seemingly “miracle” drugs – they could ward off the brain-robbing disease.
That said, like all drugs they do come with negative side effects, from nausea and vomiting to diarrhoea, constipation and acid reflux.
The active ingredient, semaglutide, works by mimicking the GLP-1, a hormone that is released in the body when you are full.
It slows down the rate at which the stomach empties, acts on the brain to reduce appetite and boosts insulin levels, which in turn helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
The new study suggests type 2 diabetes patients taking the drug had “significantly lower” risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the findings were consistent across different subgroups, including weight, gender and age.
Researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, analysed three years of electronic records of nearly one million American patients with type 2 diabetes.
The team used a statistical approach that mimics a randomised clinical trial.
They found patients prescribed semaglutide had a significantly lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease, compared to those who had taken any of seven other anti-diabetic medications, including other types of GLP-1R-targeting medications.
Dementia has been found to be the leading cause of death in Britain for the last 10 years.
Study leader Professor Rong Xu said: “This new study provides real-world evidence for its impact on Alzheimer’s disease, even though preclinical research has suggested that semaglutide may protect against neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.”
Although the findings potentially support the idea that semaglutide could prevent Alzheimer’s disease, Prof Xu says the study’s limitations restrict the researchers from making firm causal conclusions.
She added: “Our results indicate that further research into semaglutide’s use will need to be further investigated through randomised clinical trials so alternative drugs can be tested as potential treatment for this debilitating illness.”
Type 2 diabetes and dementia
Previous studies have shown type 2 diabetes can be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and other types of dementia.
This is because the same cardiovascular problems that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes also increase the risk of dementia.
These include obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Recent studies have even referred to Alzheimer’s disease as ‘type 3 diabetes’.
This is because people living with Alzheimer’s disease are in a diabetic state as they experience a decrease in or insensitivity to insulin.
But it’s important to note diabetes only remains a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease – some people with diabetes will go on to develop the disease, while others won’t.
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Who can take semaglutide?
Semaglutide is available in the UK under the brand names Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus.
Wegovy is prescribed for managing overweight and obesity, while Ozempic and Rybelsus are used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes
People will only be prescribed semaglutide if they have a health problem due to their weight.
Adults over the age of 18 with type 2 diabetes can take semaglutide.
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE for short, recommend that Ozempic and Rybelsus can be prescribed to adults with type 2 diabetes when:
- Using three medications has not been effective in managing diabetes.
- Or you have not been able to take the medications. This might be because of side effects or because of other medical conditions.
Ozempic and Rybelsus are only prescribed when someone has a body mass index (BMI) of 35kg/m2 or higher, and has additional psychological or other medical conditions that are related to obesity.
Someone with type 2 diabetes can be prescribed Ozempic or Rybelsus if they have a BMI below 35kg/m2 and using insulin would affect their job due to the risk of low blood sugar.
Also, if weight loss would lead to improvements in other obesity-related health issues.
How to reduce your risk of dementia
There’s currently no cure for dementia, but there things you can do to reduce your risk.
Evidence suggests the following lifestyle choices can help stave off the condition.
Do physical exercise – Exercise can help keep the brain healthy by increasing blood flow and oxygen supply, stimulating the growth of new brain cells, and protecting brain function.
Drink less alcohol – Drinking too much alcohol can cause the parts of the brain that control memory to shrink.
Don’t smoke – Smoking increases the risk of developing dementia because it can damage blood vessels, reduce oxygen levels in the blood, and cause inflammation and stress in cells.
Stay mentally well and socially active – Social contact can help build cognitive reserve, which is the brain’s ability to resist the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Protect your eyesight and hearing – Protecting your eyesight and hearing can help reduce your risk of developing dementia because there’s a link between sensory loss and dementia.
Protect your head – Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a blow or jolt to the head – especially when the person is knocked out unconscious. These can start a process in the brain where the substances that cause Alzheimer’s disease build up around the injured area. Wear protective headgear in situations where there is a higher-than-normal risk of head injury.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society
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