More than 20 clinical trials are investigating whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, could act as therapies for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Both conditions are characterized by brain inflammation.
The drugs mimic a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, and while weight loss and reductions in blood sugar can help calm inflammation, some of the medications spur anti-inflammatory results before weight loss happens. Because of this, researchers are seeing if there’s an undiscovered mechanism in GLP-1s.
A few studies have shown positive results in mice, and others have seen GLP-1s reducing liver inflammation in a pilot study among people, according to Nature. A current trial is now testing exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon) among patients with Parkinson’s, which is expected to conclude this year.
Apart from the drugs’ approved indications for Type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, studies are researching how GLP-1s might affect cardiovascular diseases, addiction, dementia and cancer.
