Can Ozempic, Mounjaro Drugs Protect The Brain? What A New Review Found

Obesity drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar control. Researchers say these medicines could also help protect brain function, including memory and other cognitive abilities.Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the University of Copenhagen examined evidence on how these drugs affect the brain and their potential to inform treatments aimed at preserving cognitive function. The review was published in the journal Science.How Do Obesity Drugs Affect The Brain?Semaglutide and tirzepatide belong to a class of medicines that act on metabolic pathways involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation. They may also influence biological processes important for brain function.Animal studies suggest that GLP-1 drugs can affect learning and memory. However, findings from human studies have been mixed.Studies analysing patient records have linked GLP-1 treatment to a lower risk of dementia among people with type 2 diabetes. However, these findings do not establish whether the medicines themselves are responsible for the reduced risk.Semaglutide Failed To Slow Alzheimer's ProgressionThe potential benefits of these drugs have also been examined in people with Alzheimer's disease.In Novo Nordisk's EVOKE and EVOKE+ clinical trials, semaglutide did not slow disease progression in patients with early Alzheimer's disease, despite producing changes in several biological markers associated with the condition.However, researchers say these findings do not rule out potential benefits in other groups of patients.People with obesity or type 2 diabetes may experience difficulties with attention, planning and processing speed. These cognitive problems are often associated with metabolic and vascular health, making them potential targets for treatment.Stina Börchers, first author of the review and a researcher affiliated with the University of Gothenburg and the University of Copenhagen, said it is important to establish whether these treatments can help preserve cognitive abilities, particularly when started before problems become established.“We need to find out whether these treatments can help people with obesity or diabetes preserve their cognitive abilities, particularly if treatment begins before cognitive problems become established,” Börchers said.Could Obesity Drugs Lead To New Brain Treatments?Researchers are trying to understand whether the potential effects of obesity medicines on the brain result from improved metabolism, direct action on the brain, or a combination of both.Christoffer Clemmensen, senior author of the review and research group leader at the University of Copenhagen, said advances in obesity medicines offer new opportunities to understand how metabolic regulation influences brain function.“By disentangling the direct and indirect effects of these drugs on the brain, we may ultimately be able to develop treatments specifically aimed at preserving cognitive function,” Clemmensen said.Why More Clinical Trials Are NeededThe researchers are calling for clinical trials that assess memory and other cognitive abilities from the beginning of treatment.They also stress the need to monitor older and frail patients. Rapid weight loss and loss of muscle mass could affect physical function and potentially reduce the benefits of treatment in these groups.For now, whether obesity drugs can help preserve cognitive function remains an important research question. More clinical evidence is needed before they can be considered treatments for protecting brain health.

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