Weight-loss jab Ozempic ‘could help patients with advanced Alzheimer’s’, scientists say
Ozempic could be given to help patients with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, it was claimed last night.
Scientists believe that the weight loss shot’s role in reducing inflammation in the body is critical as it is common in other conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Studies have begun examining the impact of semaglutide – marketed as Ozempic for treating diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss – in slowing the progression of dementia.
The injections have already proven successful in reducing the risk of heart attacks and cancer.
Research in patients taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes suggests a lower risk of dementia and fewer symptoms in those who develop Alzheimer’s disease.
A US study of more than a million people with type 2 diabetes found that those given semaglutide were up to 70 percent less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the next three years.
A US study of more than a million people with type 2 diabetes found that those who took semaglutide were up to 70 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over the next three years.
Jeff Cummings, professor of brain sciences and health, said, “Let’s start with the more advanced patients. I think we need to develop drugs for more advanced patients.
‘Every patient with early disease eventually develops late disease, and so we need to find a way to slow that progression to a later stage of the disease. But once they are there, we should be able to help them better than we do now.
Studies have begun examining the impact of semaglutide – marketed as Ozempic (pictured) to treat diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss – in slowing the progression of dementia
A person taking ozempic. Research in patients taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes suggests lower risk of dementia and fewer symptoms in those who develop Alzheimer’s
“But we think that drugs like semaglutide, drugs that you would take to affect brain metabolism, or the way the brain works, could be applicable in later-stage patients, even though it’s tentatively tested in early stages. stage patients.’
Dr. Jacqui Hanley, head of research funding at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘It is encouraging to see major studies investigating whether already licensed medicines can be repurposed as a treatment for dementia. Because these drugs have already been shown to be safe for use, this could potentially speed up the testing process in clinical trials and also be significantly cheaper.
‘We know that roughly a third of the drugs in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease are treatments used for other conditions. If we want to cure dementia, we need to develop a toolbox of treatments that address different aspects of the disease and can be used in combination. Research into the reuse of medicines can help us with this.’
Figures show that almost 400 prisoners have been given Ozempic prescriptions this year after the number of cases of type 2 diabetes in prison doubled in four years.
In 2024, 396 prisoners received Ozempic shots.
That was down from the 575 prescribed to prisoners last year and the 448 in 2022.
An older lady (stock image). A US study of more than a million people with type 2 diabetes found that those given semaglutide were up to 70 percent less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over the next three years.
But the rates were significantly higher than the 36 given in 2019.
The NHS pays a flat rate of £73.25 per standard Ozempic prescription.
And with 1,770 injections given to prisoners in the last five years, Ozempic has cost the NHS almost £130,000 since 2019.
Nearly a fifth (18 percent) of the total prison population were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this year, up from 9.5 percent in 2020.