Scientists from Chinese biotechnology company Sichuan Nigale Biotechnology found that semaglutide improved the cognitive abilities of mice and protected them from Alzheimer’s disease. Research results It was published In the journal Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy (B&P).
Semaglutide is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is found in many injectable medications, such as Ozempic. Numerous studies have shown that such drugs can fight not only excess weight, but also skin diseases and fatty liver.
As part of a new experiment, scientists evaluated the neuroprotective properties of semaglutide. The drug’s effectiveness was tested on mice with the human analogue of Alzheimer’s disease. The first group of rodents was given donepezil, traditionally used to treat dementia, the second group was given semaglutide, and the third group served as a control.
Over the course of six months, researchers tested the rodents’ cognitive abilities in tests involving mazes and various obstacle platforms. Various behavioral tests were also used. The results showed that mice treated with semaglutide or donepezil performed better on the tasks. Semaglutide-treated rodents also showed improvements in daily functioning as assessed by their nest-building behavior.
Analysis of the subjects’ brain tissue showed that semaglutide upregulated the expression of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) in the hippocampus. This area is related to the transfer of short-term memory to long-term memory, remembering the environment and learning. Additionally, the diabetes drug reduced neuroinflammation and cleared toxic proteins from the brain.
Scientists noted that similar neuroprotective properties may occur in humans when taking semaglutide. More research is needed to determine what dosage is needed for this.
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