Most people are familiar with the connection between physical health and brain health. “What is good for the heart is good for the head!” has become a popular slogan, encouraging people to adopt healthy habits—such as eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and managing cardiovascular risk factors—to reduce the risk of both heart disease and dementia later in life.

As more people turn to medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs to treat diabetes and obesity, it is natural to wonder whether these medications might also benefit brain health and help protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). GLP-1 medications were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and are now widely used to help manage blood sugar levels and support weight loss.

Studies in both animals and humans suggest that GLP-1 drugs may reduce inflammation, improve the body’s response to insulin, and promote the growth of new brain cells—all of which could help protect against cognitive decline. Brain imaging studies have also suggested that these drugs may affect how the brain uses energy and how well people think and remember.¹ Because so many people are already taking these medications for diabetes or weight management, researchers have a unique opportunity to explore their potential effects on brain health.

Recent studies involving people with type 2 diabetes suggest that GLP-1 drugs may help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One study, a systematic review published in JAMA Neurology, examined 26 clinical trials of different glucose-lowering medications. The study found fewer cases of dementia among patients treated with GLP-1 drugs, while similar benefits were not seen with other common diabetes medications.² Another study analyzed electronic health record data and found that GLP-1 drugs, as well as another class of diabetes medications called SGLT2 inhibitors, were associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.³

These findings are encouraging, but they do not prove that GLP-1 drugs prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The key question is whether these medications can prevent Alzheimer’s disease or slow its progression in people who have confirmed Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain. Earlier this year, researchers reported results from two large Phase III clinical trials (evoke and evoke+) that tested an oral GLP-1 medication in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.⁴ The results were disappointing. The medication did not slow declines in memory, thinking, or daily functioning among participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Despite this setback, researchers did see encouraging changes in biological markers linked to Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation in the brain. Another clinical trial, known as the ELAD study, found treatment-related changes on MRI scans in brain regions important for memory and thinking. These findings have led some researchers to speculate that GLP-1 drugs may need to be tested earlier in the disease process, before people develop symptoms. Others have suggested that GLP-1 drugs may not act directly on Alzheimer’s disease itself, but instead may work through effects on blood vessels in the brain.⁵ If that is the case, these medications may prove more useful for people with vascular dementia or mixed dementia, in which Alzheimer’s disease occurs alongside cerebrovascular disease.

In summary, research findings have been mixed regarding whether GLP-1 drugs are effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. However, the changes observed in brain imaging and biomarker studies continue to suggest there may be a meaningful biological connection worth exploring. Research is ongoing to better understand how these medications may support brain health and to identify the situations in which they may be most beneficial.

To learn more about GLP-1 medications and Alzheimer’s disease, visit the Alzheimer’s Association article, “GLP-1s and Alzheimer’s: What You Need to Know”.

References

1. Roy A, et al. Neurotherapeutics. 2025;22(5).
2. Seminer A, et al. JAMA Neurology. 2025;82(5):450–460.
3. Tang, Donahoo, DeKosky, et al. JAMA Neurology. 2025;82(5):439–449.
4. Cummings JL, et al. The Lancet. 2026;407(10544):2167–2179.
5. Mourtzos, et al. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2026;237:113345.