A drug commonly used for weight management and type 2 diabetes may also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests.
Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is part of a class of medications that includes semaglutide, known commercially as Wegovy and Ozempic. While these drugs are primarily used to treat obesity and diabetes, scientists are exploring additional benefits for brain health.
In a study led by Professor Paul Edison at Imperial College London, 200 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease received either daily injections of liraglutide or a placebo. Brain scans revealed that those on liraglutide experienced significantly less shrinkage in key brain regions, including the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as in total grey matter. These areas are critical for memory, learning, language, and decision-making.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study found that liraglutide reduced cognitive decline by up to 18% over one year. Researchers believe the drug’s protective effects may stem from its ability to influence inflammation, tau protein aggregation, insulin resistance, and amyloid accumulation—processes known to contribute to Alzheimer’s-related brain damage. Professor Edison compared the potential effect to statins protecting the heart by lowering cholesterol.
“Liraglutide may protect the brain by reducing inflammation, lowering insulin resistance, mitigating toxic effects of Alzheimer’s biomarkers, or improving nerve cell communication,” said Professor Edison.
Study Details
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 204 patients across 24 UK clinics. Participants underwent MRI scans to measure brain structure and volume, PET scans to assess glucose metabolism, and detailed cognitive testing at the start and end of the study.
Although the primary endpoint—changes in brain glucose metabolism—was not met, secondary measures revealed significant benefits. MRI results showed nearly 50% less volume loss in multiple brain regions among patients receiving liraglutide. Cognitive testing further indicated an 18% slower decline over one year compared to the placebo group.
Because liraglutide and other GLP-1 analogues are already approved for diabetes and obesity, researchers say the drug could quickly be repurposed for Alzheimer’s if phase 3 trials confirm the findings and receive regulatory approval.
Two independent phase 3 trials are ongoing, with results expected by the end of 2025.
The study was funded by the Alzheimer’s Society UK, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, Novo Nordisk, the John and Lucille Van Geest Foundation, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Imaging was conducted at Imperial College London’s Clinical Imaging Facility.
Related topic：
