Ozempic may reduce dementia: Research

Ozempic use is associated with a lowered risk for cognitive problems, researchers in a new study said. The findings, however, cannot be applied to users who do not have diabetes.

The study, published Thursday, was conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford who analyzed more than 100,000 U.S. patient records, including 20,000 who were taking a semaglutide, commonly known as Ozempic or Wegovy. 

Researchers found that the drug does not increase risk for neurological or psychiatric conditions compared to other antidiabetic medications, and was in fact associated with lower risk for cognitive problems and nicotine dependence. The study outlined a handful of conditions the drug did not increase the risk of, including dementia, depression and anxiety.

“Our results suggest that semaglutide use could extend beyond managing diabetes, potentially offering unexpected benefits in the treatment and prevention of cognitive decline and substance misuse,” said Dr. Riccardo De Giorgi, clinical lecturer at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study.

The findings were observational, so researchers concluded that further investigation is necessary to explore what properties of semaglutide led to the trends. They also encouraged further trials replicating the study to confirm their findings.

“Nevertheless, they are good news for patients with psychiatric disorders, who are at an increased risk of diabetes,” said Max Taquet, clinical lecturer at the University of Oxford and senior author of the study.