What if there was a drug that could treat addiction, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer, mitigate symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), lower your blood sugar, and more? Semaglutides like Ozempic might be the answer—and now, there’s a growing body of research which suggests the medication could also reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Whether you’re taking the medication, are considering going on it, or are simply following all the hype, it’s understandable to be curious.
Here’s what the latest study found about the link between Ozempic use and Alzheimer’s disease, plus what this means for treatment going forward.
Meet the expert: Verna Porter, MD, a neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
What did the study find?
For the study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia in October, researchers analyzed three years of electronic records of nearly 1 million Americans with type 2 diabetes. The researchers then used a statistical approach that mimicked a randomized clinical trial.
They discovered that patients who were prescribed semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) had a "significantly" lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to people who had taken any one of seven other anti-diabetic medications.
The exact numbers depended on the type of medication patients took, but the risk of developing Alzheimer’s was up to 70 percent lower in patients who took semaglutide compared to those who took insulin.
What's the relationship between Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's?
There's a link between type 2 diabetes and dementia, with research suggesting that people with type 2 diabetes have a 50 percent higher risk of developing dementia. The link is strongest with vascular dementia, which is a form of cognitive decline that causes "changes to memory, thinking, and behavior resulting from conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain," according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
“The overlap between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease stems from shared risk factors such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and increased risk for vascular damage,” says Verna Porter, MD, a neurologist and director of the Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurocognitive Disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Why did semaglutide users have a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s?
It’s not entirely clear at this point. However, semaglutide tamps down inflammation, lowering the risk of obesity and heart disease—which are risk factors for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Porter says.
Why did semaglutide seem to work better than other anti-diabetic medications?
That’s also not clear yet. But the findings “add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that GLP-1 receptor agonists may have neuroprotective properties, which could benefit patients beyond glucose control,” Dr. Porter says.
Semaglutide is in a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Others include Wegovy, Mounjaro, and more.
Can taking semaglutide drugs Ozempic reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s?
It’s important to point out that this particular study simply found a link between taking semaglutide and having a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with type 2 diabetes. It didn’t find that taking semaglutide caused it.
Also, this study wasn’t an actual randomized, controlled clinical trial—it merely mimicked it. But it definitely raises some questions.
Ultimately, doctors need way more data before they begin prescribing semaglutide for Alzheimer's prevention. “As a clinician, I'm aware of the need for further research—including longer-term studies and randomized controlled trials—to better understand the mechanisms and validate these findings before making changes to my treatment approach,” Dr. Porter says.
How can I reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s?
There are a lot of aspects of Alzheimer’s disease that remain a mystery, but the Alzheimer’s Association says there are a few things you can do to lower your risk:
- Try to manage your blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol
- Get regular physical exercise
- Eat a heart-healthy diet with limited sugar and saturated fats, making sure to load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Try to stay socially connected
- Aim to regularly stimulate your brain
- Try to lower your risk of head trauma by wearing a seat belt and using a helmet when biking
