You have probably already heard of semaglutide, the active ingredient currently found in two medications – Ozempic® and Wegovy®. Although regularly diverted for the purpose of weight loss, the first is strictly reserved (in France) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The second, for its part, was authorized (still in France) between July 2022 and September 2023 for the medical management of obesity.
But beyond diabetes and obesity, semaglutide could be of interest in the prevention of certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular diseases – such as heart attack or stroke, for example. example.
Can Ozempic prevent Alzheimer’s?
The question arises because, according to a study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, patients with type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide have a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
By analyzing three years of medical records, researchers from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine (United States) discovered that, compared to 7 other antidiabetic drugs, patients who had been prescribed semaglutide presented a risk significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
This discovery should pave the way for further research to determine whether the anti-diabetic drug has protective effects against neurodegeneration
Semaglutide to prevent heart attacks and strokes?
Earlier this year, another study, carried out by University College London (in England) and presented at the European Congress of Obesity (ECO), was carried out among 17,604 adults living in 41 countries.
Participants were aged over 45, had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 (corresponding to overweight) and had a history of cardiovascular disease. They were separated into 2 groups for 40 months: the volunteers in group 1 received each week a dose of 2.5 mg of semaglutide subcutaneously (by injection) while the volunteers in group 2 only received one dose. placebo.
A 20% lower risk in patients treated with semaglutide
Result ? The British researchers found that, during the observation period, only 6.5% of participants in group 1 suffered a cardiovascular pathology compared to 8% of those in group 2. That is to say a lower risk of around 20%.
Conclusion of the researchers: “semaglutide should be prescribed as treatment as well as for prevention of cardiovascular pathologies” estimates Professor John Deanfield, who is director of the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (in Great Britain) and main author of this work.
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Source: www.topsante.com
