---
title: "Diabetes Drug Linked To Alzheimer's Prevention; Can Reduce Risk By Up To 70%"
url: "https://www.biohackyourself.com/articles/diabetes-drug-linked-alzheimers-prevention"
author: "Bianca Tan"
published: "2024-10-25"
section: "News"
topics: "brain"
description: "A new study shows that a type 2 diabetes medication could potentially prevent Alzheimer's disease."
---

# Diabetes Drug Linked To Alzheimer's Prevention; Can Reduce Risk By Up To 70%

*By Bianca Tan · October 25, 2024 · News*

A new study shows that a type 2 diabetes medication could potentially prevent Alzheimer's disease.

The study, published by the [Alzheimer's Association](https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.14313) on Thursday, tried to analyze the link between semaglutide, a medication that belongs to a class of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, and Alzheimer's disease prevention.

Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are known [brand names](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603723/) of semaglutide.

Researchers, led by Dr. Rong Xu from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, used electronic health records (EHRs) of 116 million US patients to identify 17,104 new users of semaglutide and 1,077,657 new users of other antidiabetic medications, including insulin and metformin.

Semaglutide was compared with seven other antidiabetic medication classes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The results of the three-year study showed those using semaglutide had a "significantly reduced risk" for Alzheimer's disease compared to those using other diabetes medications.

In fact, it showed a 40% to 70% lowered risk for first-time diagnosis of Alzheimer's, [Medscape](https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/more-evidence-ties-semaglutide-reduced-alzheimers-risk-2024a1000ji6) noted.

"Most strongly compared with insulin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.33 [95% CI: 0.21 to 0.51]) and most weakly compared with other GLP-1RAs (HR, 0.59 [95% CI: 0.37 to 0.95]). Similar results were seen across obesity status, gender, and age groups," the study pointed out.

Previous studies have shown a strong link between Alzheimer's disease and elevated blood sugar levels. Individuals with high blood sugar -- like those with type 2 diabetes -- showed a significant increase in beta-amyloid protein, a key brain protein involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, data from [Alzheimer's Association](https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-dementia-diabetes-cognitive-decline-ts.pdf) showed.

Dr. Courtney Kloske, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer's Association, told Medscape that by managing diabetes, one can maintain brain health.

Data shows that 30% of US adults 65 years old and up have diabetes. Some remain undiagnosed.

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Published by Biohack Yourself Media (https://www.biohackyourself.com). Editorial and educational content, not medical advice.