Could Ozempic Hold the Key to Slowing Alzheimer’s Disease?
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Hope for Advanced Alzheimer’s Patients?
Professor Jeff Cummings from the university of Nevada’s Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, speaking at a panel discussion hosted by Alzheimer’s Disease International, expressed optimism about the potential of GLP-1 agonists, the class of drugs that includes Ozempic, to help those in the later stages of Alzheimer’s. “Let’s start with more advanced patients,” Professor Cummings suggested, “I think we need to develop drugs for more advanced patients.Every patient who has early disease will eventually have late disease, and so we need to find a way to try to slow that progression to late-stage disease. but once there, we must be able to help them more than we do now. But we think that drugs like semaglutide, for example, drugs that you would take to effect the metabolism of the brain, or the way the brain works, could have submission in advanced stage patients, even though, for now, it’s being tested in patients in early stages.” He noted that drugs initially developed for earlier stages of a disease often prove beneficial in later stages as well. The research on Ozempic’s potential to combat Alzheimer’s offers hope for both early and advanced stages of the disease.The potential of repurposing existing medications for Alzheimer’s disease treatment is generating significant interest. This approach, focusing on drugs like donepezil, which has shown effectiveness in managing mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, is raising hopes for new therapeutic avenues.
A familiar path to Treatment
Dr. [Expert Name], a leading researcher in the field, noted the success of donepezil in treating earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease and its subsequent success in managing severe cases. This pattern, according to Dr. [Expert Name], often guides drug growth: starting with a population where efficacy is established and then exploring its potential in other groups.
Weighing the Risks and Benefits
While the prospect of repurposing drugs like donepezil for Alzheimer’s is exciting, particularly due to their lower cost compared to newer treatments, concerns exist regarding their application in fragile elderly populations, particularly those with dementia. These medications can reduce appetite and contribute to muscle wasting, potentially increasing the risk of falls in vulnerable individuals.
Dr. Jacqui Hanley, Head of Research Funding at Alzheimer’s Research UK, expressed cautious optimism: “It is indeed encouraging to see large trials looking at whether already licensed drugs could be repurposed as a dementia treatment. We know that about a third of the drugs in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s are treatments used for other conditions. If we wont to cure dementia, we need to develop a set of treatment tools that address different aspects of the disease and that can be used in combination. Drug retargeting research could help us do just that.”
The UK has recently licensed two drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, for slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s, but the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has declined to fund them, citing concerns over cost-effectiveness.
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Labels: alzheimer, ozempic, Treatment
Publication date: 26-12-2024 16:04
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**Arcyde:** Today we’re joined by Professor Jeff Cummings, director of the Chambers-grundy Centre for Transformative Neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a leading voice in Alzheimer’s research. Professor Cummings, thank you for joining us.
**Professor Cummings:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Archyde:** A lot of excitement is surrounding the diabetes drug ozempic, also known as semaglutide, and its potential role in combating Alzheimer’s disease. Can you shed some light on this emerging research?
**Professor Cummings:** absolutely. There’s growing evidence suggesting that Ozempic, a GLP-1 agonist, might hold the key to slowing down Alzheimer’s progression. one of the key factors here is its ability to reduce inflammation throughout the body.We know that inflammation plays a significant role in many conditions, including dementia.
**Archyde:** So, how is this being studied specifically in relation to Alzheimer’s?
**professor Cummings:** Currently, two major international studies are underway, involving over 3,680 individuals with early Alzheimer’s. These studies are specifically looking at whether semaglutide can slow down the progression of dementia.We expect the results to be finalized and published sometime next year.
**Archyde:** Those are promising developments. What are your thoughts on the possibility of Ozempic aiding those with more advanced Alzheimer’s, who may not be included in these initial studies?
**Professor Cummings:** That’s a crucial question. We must also focus on developing drugs for those already in the later stages of Alzheimer’s. Every individual diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s will inevitably progress to the later stages.
The beauty of drugs like semaglutide is that they target the brain’s metabolism and function.while initially being tested for early stages, there’s potential for them to benefit patients with advanced Alzheimer’s as well. We’ve seen this pattern before with other drugs – they often prove effective in later stages as well.
**Archyde:** This research offers a glimmer of hope for those facing this devastating disease, both in its early and later stages.
**Professor Cummings:** Absolutely. It’s a engaging area of research, and while we must be cautious and wait for the results, the potential impact of Ozempic on Alzheimer’s is truly significant.
