A New Discovery.. Diabetes Drug Could Slow Alzheimer’s Progression
A recent British study has revealed a strong link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, it suggests that a drug commonly used to treat diabetes could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Indeed, the results of this study, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, showed that the drug “liraglutide,” used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, could effectively contribute to reducing brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s patients.
This means that this drug could be capable of delaying the cognitive decline associated with this chronic neurodegenerative disease. This information was detailed by researchers at Imperial College London, according to the results presented last Thursday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia. Liraglutide belongs to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and to help people with obesity lose weight. However, scientists have discovered new applications for this drug beyond its initial use.
The new study involved 204 patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease at 24 clinics across the United Kingdom. Half of the patients received a daily injection of a 1.8-milligram dose of this drug, while the other half received an injection containing a placebo. Before the start of this study, all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging to assess their brain structure and volume, as well as detailed memory tests. These tests were repeated at the end of the study.
The results showed that liraglutide reduced brain atrophy by 50% compared to the placebo. Atrophy was observed by brain imaging in the frontal, temporal, and parietal regions, as well as in total gray matter, which are regions responsible for memory, learning, language, and decision-making, vital functions often affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers also found that the drug could protect the brains of patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and reduce cognitive decline by 18% after one year of treatment.
The study’s lead researcher at Imperial College London, Dr. Paul Edison, said: “We believe that liraglutide protects the brain by reducing inflammation, lowering insulin resistance and the toxic effects of Alzheimer’s markers, and improving communication between brain cells.” He added, via the university’s website: “If scientists can prove the efficacy of this drug in patients through phase III clinical trials and it receives approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, it could be quickly available.”
Two independent phase III clinical trials are currently underway to test the drug’s efficacy in treating Alzheimer’s, and results are expected by the end of 2025. Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss, decline in thinking and reasoning skills, and difficulty performing everyday tasks.
