Oxford College evaluation finds semaglutide doesn’t negatively impression mind well being and should in truth cut back danger of cognitive issues.
A brand new examine has discovered that semaglutide, higher often called Ozempic and Wegovy, doesn’t negatively impression mind well being and should even present advantages for cognition and nicotine dependence. The analysis, carried out by the College of Oxford and supported by the NIHR Oxford Well being Biomedical Analysis Centre and the Medical Analysis Council, gives reassuring information for individuals utilizing the favored weight problems and diabetes remedy, which has not too long ago confronted questions relating to its security.
The findings revealed that semaglutide is just not related to an elevated danger of hostile neurological or psychiatric outcomes, similar to dementia, melancholy, or nervousness; quite the opposite, the drug was linked to a decrease danger of cognitive issues and nicotine dependence in contrast with the opposite drugs studied.
Longevity.Know-how: A yr in the past, we advised the potential for semaglutide to be considered a longevity drug, as a consequence of its helpful impression in a number of areas of human biology, and this new examine provides additional weight to the argument. Past promoting weight loss and preventing diabetes, the drug has additionally demonstrated efficacy in decreasing cardiovascular complications in human studies, in addition to exhibiting neuroprotective effects in mouse studies, which now look like supported by human information within the Oxford examine.
The examine, published in eClinicalMedicine, analyzed information from over 100 million affected person information within the US, together with greater than 20,000 people taking semaglutide. Via a complete evaluation, the researchers in contrast the neurological and psychiatric outcomes of sufferers on semaglutide with these on three different diabetes drugs: sitagliptin, empagliflozin and glipizide.
Particularly, semaglutide was related to a considerably decreased danger of cognitive deficits and dementia in comparison with sitagliptin and glipizide. Furthermore, the drug confirmed a decreased danger of nicotine misuse in most comparisons, though the researchers word that a few of the findings misplaced statistical significance after adjustment for a number of comparisons.
READ MORE: Our exclusive interview with the scientist whose work led to Wegovy/Ozempic
“Our outcomes counsel that semaglutide use might prolong past managing diabetes, probably providing surprising advantages within the remedy and prevention of cognitive decline and substance misuse,” mentioned Dr Riccardo De Giorgi, Medical Lecturer on the College of Oxford and lead creator of the examine. “The findings of our examine subsequently not solely assist reassure the thousands and thousands of sufferers counting on semaglutide for diabetes administration, however, if confirmed, may also have vital implications for public well being by way of decreasing cognitive deficit and smoking charges amongst sufferers with diabetes.”
The examine discovered no vital variations in unfavorable management outcomes between the cohorts, suggesting that the noticed associations are unlikely to be as a consequence of unmeasured confounding elements. The researchers additionally famous that whereas semaglutide is commonly prescribed for people with weight problems, along with these with Sort 2 diabetes, the findings of this examine will not be essentially relevant to non-diabetic people.
“Our examine is observational and these outcomes ought to subsequently be replicated in a randomised managed trial to verify and prolong our findings,” mentioned Dr Max Taquet, Medical Lecturer on the College of Oxford and senior creator of the examine. “Nonetheless, they’re excellent news for sufferers with psychiatric issues, who’re at an elevated danger of diabetes.”
