A drug prescribed for diabetes and weight loss has been shown to reduce brain shrinkage in Alzheimer’s patients by almost 50%.

The drug, called liraglutide, is one of the glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1) agonists which also includes semaglutide – known as Wegovy or Ozempic – which are licensed for managing overweight and obesity and for type 2 diabetes.  However, scientists are discovering further applications for these drugs beyond their original purpose.

In a study involving 200 patients with Alzheimer’s disease, led by Professor Paul Edison at Imperial College London, the brains of patients who had taken liraglutide showed a significant reduction in shrinkage compared to patients who had taken a placebo.

The shrinkage was seen by brain imaging of the frontal, temporal, parietal lobes and total grey matter of the brain. These are the parts that control memory, learning, language and decision-making – all critical functions often affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

The new research, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in the United States and which is yet to be peer-reviewed, suggests liraglutide may protect the brains of people with mild Alzheimer’s disease and reduce cognitive decline by as much as 18% after one year of treatment.

The researchers say that although it’s not clear exactly how liraglutide is working on the brain, they believe its protective effect is due to slowing the reduction in brain volume, similar to statins indirectly protecting the heart by reducing cholesterol levels.

Professor Paul Edison, Professor of Neuroscience at Imperial’s Department of Brain Sciences, said: “We think liraglutide is protecting the brain possibly by reducing inflammation, lowering insulin resistance and the toxic effects of Alzheimer’s biomarkers or improving how the brain’s nerve cells communicate.”

Reducing brain shrinkage

Loss of brain volume is a common marker of Alzheimer’s disease. As the disease progresses and damage spreads through the brain, additional areas and lobes become affected, and the brain gradually shrinks.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 204 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease seen at 24 clinics throughout the United Kingdom. Half were given a daily injection of up to 1.8 mg of liraglutide, while the other half received a placebo injection.

Before the study began, all patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their brains to evaluate structure and volume, as well as having glucose metabolism PET scans and detailed memory testing. These tests were repeated at the end of the study.

Although the study’s primary endpoint, which focused on changes in the cortical regions in the brain, was not met, the secondary endpoint of changes in scores for clinical and cognitive measures, as well as the exploratory endpoint of brain volume, showed a statistically significant improvement.

Those in the study who received liraglutide had nearly 50% less volume loss in several areas of the brain, as measured by MRI. Researchers also conducted cognitive testing in the patients – before treatment and at 24 and 52 weeks. Although the study was not originally set up to assess cognitive changes, researchers found that patients who received liraglutide had an 18% slower decline in cognitive function over the course of one year compared to those who received the placebo.

Professor Edison explained that because liraglutide is already licensed for managing  obesity and diabetes, its path to treatment for Alzheimer’s could be swift.

He added: “If scientists are able to further demonstrate that this is working in patients with Alzheimer's disease better than standard treatments in phase 3 trials, and the FDA approves it for Alzheimer’s, this drug could then be immediately available.”

Two independent phase 3 trials are already underway, with findings due at the end of 2025.

The study was funded by Alzheimer’s Society, UK; Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, Novo Nordisk, John and Lucille Van Geest Foundation, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre.

Imaging for the study was carried out at Imperial College London’s Clinical Imaging Facility.

Proposal ID: 89799, Evaluation of Novel GLP-1 analogue in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by Professor Paul Edison et al, was presented on 30^th July at the Alzheimers Assocation International Conference in Philadelphia and online.