AAIC

AAIC 2024: GLP-1 drug liraglutide may protect against dementia

August 9, 2024

New research reported at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference suggests liraglutide may protect the brains of people with mild Alzheimer disease (AD) and reduce cognitive decline by as much as 18% after one year of treatment compared with placebo by slowing atrophy of the parts of the brain that are vital for memory, learning, language and decision-making.

• The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Evaluating the Effects of the Novel GLP-1 Analogue Liraglutide in Alzheimer's Disease (ELAD) trial included 204 patients with mild AD seen at 24 clinics throughout the U.K. Each received a daily SC injection for one year: half (n = 102) received up to 1.8 mg of liraglutide and the other half (n = 102) received placebo. MRIs were performed at baseline and after 12 months along with neuropsychometric evaluation and PET scans.
• MRI analysis demonstrated a slower decline of temporal lobe volume and total grey matter volume in liraglutide-treated patients compared with the placebo group.
• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis demonstrated that liraglutide-treated participants showed a slower reduction in whole cortical grey matter, frontal, temporal and parietal lobe volume in participants treated with liraglutide compared with placebo. This was associated with slower decline in cognitive function.

Sources:

(2024, July 30). Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. GLP-1 drug liraglutide may protect against dementia. [Press release]. https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/glp-drug-liraglutide-may-protect-against-dementia.asp

Edison, P., et al. Evaluation of novel GLP-1 analogue in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Proposal #89799. Presented at: 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference;July 28-August 1, 2024; Philadelphia, PA. https://aaic.alz.org/downloads2024/AAIC-2024-GLP-1-Ph2-trial.pdf