Ozempic Might Be a Dementia Buster, Too
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, might also double as a brain booster. Research out today describes a link between semaglutide use and a reduced risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes.
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University conducted the study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. They found that diabetes patients taking semaglutide have a significantly lower risk of dementia than those taking other diabetes medications. The findings should prompt further study into this connection, including clinical trials, the researchers say.
How Ozempic Works—and What's Still a Mystery
GLP-1 drugs were first approved to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Newer GLP-1 agents, such as semaglutide, have also proven to be substantially more effective at helping people lose weight than diet and exercise alone. Studies are also showing that the health benefits of GLP-1s can extend beyond just weight loss. Study researcher Rong Xu and her team have been looking into some of these potential added benefits. Their past studies have suggested that semaglutide can help temper cravings for nicotine or opioids, for instance.
There is currently no known cure for dementia, as Xu notes. But up to half of all dementia cases might be preventable, and scientists have identified over a dozen modifiable risk factors that contribute to dementia risk, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease—all conditions that GLP-1s like semaglutide are known to address. GLP-1s also seem to generally reduce inflammation, yet another contributing factor to dementia.
Given all that, 'semaglutide has emerged as a promising candidate' for a preventative treatment that can tackle multiple drivers of dementia risk, Xu told Gizmodo.
The researchers had already found a link between semaglutide use and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. The team, wanting to test its hypothesis with other related dementias, analyzed the medical records of around 1.7 million patients with type 2 diabetes.
Over a three-year span, they found that people on semaglutide had a noticeably lower risk (around 40% to 50% lower) of developing any Alzheimer's disease-related dementia than those taking any of seven other diabetes medications, including insulin and metformin. This pattern could be seen among men, women, younger and older patients, and in people with or without obesity. On closer inspection, however, a reduced risk associated with semaglutide was only found with vascular dementia (the second-most common form of dementia), and not with Lewy body dementia or frontotemporal dementia.
'As we and others have previously shown benefit for semaglutide and other GLP-1RA medications in [Alzheimer's disease], our results support the GLP-1 receptor as a target for dementia prevention,' they wrote in their paper.
People on Ozempic Are Drinking Way Less
These findings aren't definitive, however, and can only show a correlation between semaglutide and lower dementia risk. That said, there's been a lot of evidence— much of it encouraging—to warrant clinical trials to show a truly show a causal effect, the researchers say. Indeed, Novo Nordisk, the developers of Ozempic and Wegovy, are currently conducting two large-scale trials testing semaglutide for Alzheimer's (both are expected to conclude as early as this year). Xu and her team also next plan to study whether tirzepatide and other emerging, potentially more effective GLP-1 drugs can provide an even greater buffer against dementia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
37 minutes ago
- Washington Post
AI tools are helping teachers with grading and lessons. They say it makes them better educators
For her 6th grade honors class, math teacher Ana Sepúlveda wanted to make geometry fun. She figured her students 'who live and breathe soccer' would be interested to learn how mathematical concepts apply to the sport. She asked ChatGPT for help. Within seconds, the chatbot delivered a five-page lesson plan, even offering a theme: 'Geometry is everywhere in soccer — on the field, in the ball, and even in the design of stadiums!' It explained the place of shapes and angles on a soccer field. It suggested classroom conversation starters: Why are those shapes important to the game? It proposed a project for students to design their own soccer field or stadium using rulers and protractors. 'Using AI has been a game changer for me,' said Sepúlveda, who teaches at a dual language school in Dallas and has ChatGPT translate everything into Spanish. 'It's helping me with lesson planning, communicating with parents and increasing student engagement.' Across the country, artificial intelligence tools are changing the teaching profession as educators use them to help write quizzes and worksheets, design lessons, assist with grading and reduce paperwork. By freeing up their time, many say the technology has made them better at their jobs. A poll released Wednesday by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation found 6 in 10 U.S. teachers working in K-12 public schools used AI tools for their work over the past school year, with heavier use among high school educators and early-career teachers. It surveyed more than 2,000 teachers nationwide in April. Respondents who use AI tools weekly estimate they save them about six hours a week, suggesting the technology could help alleviate teacher burnout, said Gallup research consultant Andrea Malek Ash, who authored the report. As schools navigate concerns over student abuse of the technology, some are also are introducing guidelines and training for educators so teachers are aware of avoiding shortcuts that shortchange students. About two dozen states have state-level AI guidance for schools, but the extent to which it is applied by schools and teachers is uneven, says Maya Israel, an associate professor of educational technology and computer science education at the University of Florida. 'We want to make sure that AI isn't replacing the judgment of a teacher,' Israel said. If teachers are using chatbots for grading they should be aware the tools are good for 'low-level' grading like multiple choice tests but less effective when nuance is required. There should be a way for students to alert teachers if the grading is too harsh or inconsistent, and the final grading decision needs to remain with the educator, she said. About 8 in 10 teachers who use AI tools say it saves them time on work tasks like making worksheets, assessments, quizzes or on administrative work. And about 6 in 10 teachers who use AI tools said they are improving the quality of their work when it comes to modifying student materials, or giving student feedback. 'AI has transformed how I teach. It's also transformed my weekends and given me a better work-life balance,' said Mary McCarthy, a high school social studies teacher in the Houston area who has used AI tools for help with lesson plans and other tasks. McCarthy said training she received from her school district on AI tools has helped her model proper use for her students. 'If I'm on the soapbox of, 'AI is bad and kids are going to get dumb,' well yeah if we don't teach them how to use the tool,' said McCarthy. 'It feels like my responsibility as the adult in the room to help them figure out how to navigate this future.' Views on the role of artificial intelligence in education have shifted dramatically since ChatGPT launched in late 2022. Schools around the country initially banned it, but since then many have sought ways to incorporate it into classrooms . Concerns about student overuse and misuse are still prevalent: About half of teachers worry that student use of AI will decrease teens' ability to think critically and independently or to have persistence when problem solving, according to the study. One benefit teachers see in becoming more familiar with artificial intelligence is the ability to spot when students are overusing it. Clues that assignments are written by AI tools include an absence of grammatical errors and complex phrases in writing, said Colorado high school English teacher Darren Barkett. He said he relies on ChatGPT himself to create lesson plans and grade multiple choice tests and essays. In suburban Chicago, middle school art teacher Lindsay Johnson said she uses only AI programs vetted by her school and deemed safe to use with minors, for data privacy and other concerns. To ensure students feel confident in their skills, she said she brings the technology in only for later stages of projects. For her 8th graders' final assessment, Johnson asked them to make a portrait of an influential person in their lives. After students put final touches on their subject's face, Johnson introduced generative AI for those who wanted help designing the background. She used an AI tool within Canva, after checking with her district's IT department that the design software passed its privacy screener. 'As an art teacher my goal is to let them know the different tools that are out there and to teach them how those tools work,' she said. Some students weren't interested in the help. 'Half the class said, 'I've got a vision, and am going to keep going with it.'' ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brighton High names distinguished grads. Who are Dennis Bowdoin and Arthur Pancioli?
Brighton High School is honoring two graduates for excellence in their respective fields. BHS is inducting Dennis Bowdoin and Dr. Arthur Pancioli to the Brighton Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame. Brighton Area Schools announced the inductions June 23. Bowdoin and Pancioli will be honored during a ceremony Oct. 16 at BHS. They'll also be part of the school's homecoming parade and celebrated during halftime at the district's homecoming football game Oct. 10. Bowdoin and Pancioli were selected by the Brighton Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame Committee, entering four years of selections. 'We continue to be amazed as we learn of the incredible stories of Brighton alumni,' BAS Superintendent Matt Outlaw wrote in a release. 'Their success is obvious, but the impact (they're) making on others and the world around them is even more impressive.' Bowdoin graduated from BHS in 1965. He started Movieland Video, growing the business from one store to 360. Bowdoin started the Helicopter Air Specialty Service and was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024. Bowdoin built the Maple Grove Heliport, managed the Maple Grove and Romeo State Airports, is an FAA Safety Counselor, is a Michigan Aeronautics Consultant, and wrote and ran the helicopter program for Western Michigan University. Bowdoin has also been a planning commissioner in Livingston County, a member of the Conway Township Planning Commission, and Conway Township Constable for 22 years. Pancioli graduated from BHS in 1982. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1987, then from U of M Medical School in 1991. Pancioli is the chief clinical officer and senior vice president for the University of Cincinnati Health System and a professor of emergency medicine for the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Pancioli was previously chair for the Department of Emergency Medicine in the UC College of Medicine and chief transformation officer for the University of Cincinnati Health System. He specializes in emergency medicine and neurovascular emergencies, and served as a member of the Michigan Air National Guard from 1989-1993 as a flight surgeon before earning the rank of captain. He's also published several peer-reviewed publications. Other members of the Brighton Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame include Drew Henson (Class of 1998), Dave LewAllen (1975), Kate Lawrence (1976), Col. Dr. Karin Flood (1988), Bruce Ritter (1971), Kari Seitz (1988) and Charles Brady (1941). 'It's such a pleasure to tell the stories of these outstanding alumni every year,' Outlaw said. 'Each story offers us a chance to celebrate as a community but also provides wonderful examples for our students of what is possible with hard work and dedication.' — Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@ Follow him on X @SalsaEvan. This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Who are BHS grads Dennis Bowdoin and Arthur Pancioli?
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Four astronauts launch to the space station as NASA grapples with strange twist in leak issue
A private astronaut mission that just took flight has exposed a new twist in a lingering — and potentially dangerous — issue at humanity's most frequently visited destination in space. Axiom Space Mission 4, or Ax-4, lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:32 a.m. ET Wednesday after an extended delay triggered by tests related to leaks plaguing the International Space Station. For years, air has been slowly leaking out of a Russia-controlled module that typically remains sealed off from the rest of the space station. Recently, however, station operators realized the gradual, steady leak had stopped. And that raised an even larger concern. It's possible that efforts to seal cracks in the module's exterior wall have worked, and the patches are finally trapping air as intended. But, according to NASA, engineers are also concerned that the module is actually holding a stable pressure because a new leak may have formed on an interior wall — causing air from the rest of the orbiting laboratory to begin rushing into the damaged area. Essentially, space station operators are worried that the entire station is beginning to lose air. Much about this issue is unknown. NASA revealed the concerns in a June 14 statement. The agency said it would delay the launch of the private Ax-4 mission, carried out by SpaceX and Houston-based company Axiom Space, as station operators worked to pinpoint the problem. 'By changing pressure in the transfer tunnel and monitoring over time, teams are evaluating the condition of the transfer tunnel and the hatch seal,' the statement read. More than a week later, the results of that research are not totally clear. After revealing the new Wednesday launch target Monday night, NASA said in a Tuesday statement that it worked with Roscosmos officials to investigate the issue. The space agencies agreed to lower the pressure in the transfer tunnel, and 'teams will continue to evaluate going forward,' according to the statement. NASA deferred further comment on the leak problem to the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, which did not reply to a list of emailed questions. The leaks, first identified in 2019, are located in a tunnel that connects a Russian module called Zvezda to a docking port that welcomes spacecraft carrying cargo and supplies. The cracks are minuscule and mostly invisible to the naked eye, hence the difficulty attempting to patch problem areas. The situation gained new urgency last year when the leak rate hit its highest reading yet. And it became clear that technical teams in the United States and Russia did not see eye to eye on what exactly might be causing the problem, according to Bob Cabana, chair of NASA's ISS Advisory Committee, during a November meeting on the issue. 'The Russians believe that continued operations are safe — but they can't prove that to our satisfaction,' Cabana added. 'And the US believes that it's not safe, but we can't prove that to the Russian satisfaction.' Neither NASA nor Roscosmos responded to requests for comment last week about how they currently evaluate the safety risk of the leaks. As NASA and Roscosmos attempted to sort through the issue, the four crewmates now flying on Ax-4 remained locked in quarantine in Florida for about a month, waiting for their chance to launch. The private mission includes decorated former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is now an Axiom Space employee, as well as three spaceflight novices who will become the first from their respective countries to visit the space station: Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The group is expected to be in space for about two weeks, helping to carry out roughly 60 science experiments before returning home. It's not yet clear whether — or how — the leaking Zvezda transfer tunnel could affect broader operations on the space station. While privately funded missions to the space station such as Ax-4 are fairly rare occurrences, NASA and Roscosmos routinely send up rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts to keep the space station staffed. Crew-11, which will mark the 12th crew rotation mission that SpaceX carries out on NASA's behalf, is currently slated to take off as soon as July. That crew includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They are on track to spend about six months in space, as is typical for staffing missions. Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.
