### Diabetes Drug Semaglutide Linked to Significantly Reduced Alzheimer's Risk

A groundbreaking study has revealed that semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular diabetes medications Ozempic and Wegovy, may significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have conducted a comprehensive analysis of over a million patient records, uncovering a surprising benefit beyond weight loss.

Using medical data from patients over 60 with Type 2 diabetes, the team led by Rong Xu, a biomedical informatics expert, compared the cognitive outcomes of those taking various diabetes drugs. The findings, published in the journal “Alzheimer's and Dementia,” showed that seniors on semaglutide were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's compared to those on other medications.

The comparison was particularly striking when semaglutide was set against traditional insulin treatments. Patients on semaglutide exhibited a staggering 70 percent reduction in Alzheimer's risk. The study focused on healthcare data spanning three years and included participants who had recently started on diabetes drugs such as insulin, Ozempic, and liraglutide, the latter being marketed as Victoza.

In an interview with NBC, Xu expressed astonishment at the superior performance of semaglutide over liraglutide, which has also been associated with a slowed progression of Alzheimer's in previous research. All participants had been prescribed a standard dose of Ozempic, which is administered as 2 milligrams per weekly injection. Conversely, Wegovy, used primarily for weight loss, is given at a slightly higher dose of 2.4 milligrams.

Xu speculated on whether higher doses of semaglutide could amplify this protective effect against Alzheimer's, noting the need for further investigation. Although no clinical trials have yet verified semaglutide's efficacy in preventing Alzheimer's, Novo Nordisk, the drug's manufacturer, is currently executing Stage 3 trials to explore this potential.

The study emphasizes the necessity for additional research through randomized clinical trials to confirm semaglutide's benefits and potentially identify other drugs as viable treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Apart from possibly preventing Alzheimer's and aiding in weight loss, semaglutide and similar medications are showing promising results in reducing cravings for alcohol and nicotine, positioning them as pivotal innovations in the pharmaceutical arena.