Weight-loss drug doesn’t reduce risk of Alzheimer’s – new studies

We would like to thank Rahul Sidhu for the contribution to this article.

Semaglutide, the drug behind the blockbuster weight-loss jabs Ozempic and Wegovy, does not slow cognitive decline in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s, according to two large new studies. The results close the door, for now, on hopes that a treatment for diabetes and obesity might also help protect the brain.

The evoke and evoke+ trials tracked nearly 3,800 people aged 55 to 85 with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s for two years. Those taking daily semaglutide did no better on tests of memory, thinking skills or day-to-day functioning than those given a placebo.

The drug used was Rybelsus , an oral version of semaglutide normally prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Like Ozempic and Wegovy , it