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A new study is exploring whether semaglutide, a medication commonly used for diabetes and obesity, can also help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, are already known for helping people lose weight and manage type 2 diabetes. Now, researchers at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio are testing how it might affect Alzheimer’s, specifically in early-stage dementia. This research is part of two global studies called EVOKE and EVOKE+.
San Antonio was chosen for this research because it has a high number of people with both diabetes and dementia, especially within the Hispanic community. This community is also at higher risk for developing dementia, which is why researchers are hopeful that this study could bring much-needed treatments.
Studies show that 1 in 9 people over 65 in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, and the number increases as people get older. In San Antonio, about 1 in 6 adults have type 2 diabetes, and many others are pre-diabetic. Diabetes is known to raise the risk of heart disease, strokes, and possibly dementia. The medication being tested, semaglutide, works by regulating blood sugar levels and slowing the emptying of the stomach, and it has also led to weight loss for many people.
People with diabetes, especially those diagnosed early, are at a much higher risk of developing dementia. Research suggests that the damage diabetes does to blood vessels, including those in the brain, can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Too much sugar in the blood can also cause brain damage and inflammation.
Early stages of the study suggest that semaglutide may help improve memory, reduce abnormal brain proteins and plaque, and lower inflammation in the brain. The final stage of the study will last over three years and include 1,840 participants aged 55 to 85 with early-stage Alzheimer’s. Some participants will take semaglutide, while others will take a placebo (an inactive pill).
If the study shows clear benefits of semaglutide, it could stop early and offer the drug to everyone in the study. Participants will also undergo tests to make sure they qualify for the study. Unlike other studies, this one allows people with small strokes or certain brain injuries to participate, which makes it unique.
This research is still in its early stages, but it could be a promising step toward finding new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
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Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/semaglutide-drugs-may-help-keep-alzheimers-at-bay
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