Could the Weight-Loss Drug, Semaglutide, Be a Solution to Neurodegeneration?

 by Annika B

Currently, the active drug Semaglutide is found in the weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic which aim to reverse the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. By reducing the volume of fat found in the liver and pancreas, the blood glucose concentration decreases. If glucose levels decrease below 48mmol/mol, this is classified as Diabetes remission. The drug, Semaglutide works by carrying out the same function as the hormone GLP-1 which has been proven (Mahapatra, Karuppasamy and Sahoo, 2022) to reduce appetite and reduces the energy consumed through delaying emptying of the stomach. 

A lesser known function of this drug is its ability to reduce inflammation (Verma et al., 2023). An investigation conducted by (Verma et al., 2023) measured the effect of Semaglutide on the C-reactive protein levels of blood which is a marker for inflammation. A heightened blood C-reactive protein level signifies inflammation as a result of an immune response. The study concluded that after a period of 15 months, a significant reduction in C-reactive protein levels were observed. 

This is a particularly interesting concept as for example, the neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer’s Disease is thought to be caused by a mutation in the Amyloid-Precursor Protein which becomes insoluble, forming amyloid-beta plaques which embed between neurones - resulting in reduced working memory and neurotransmission. This ultimately leads to greater levels of brain-tissue inflammation (Novoa et al., 2022). However, as seen with the implementation of Semaglutide, a reduction in inflammation could potentially reduce the severity of Alzheimer’s Disease and its symptoms. Therefore, studies concerning the link between Alzheimer’s Disease severity and Semaglutide will prove extremely useful.