Latest news with #NHSDorset
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Mounjaro could help obese people control asthma says study
The drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with the respiratory condition, who are 'often resistant' to steroids, researchers said. As an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK are now using weight loss drugs. A number of types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including semaglutide, or Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro. Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicing the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like dementia and stroke, with an international team of experts exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: 'People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. 'We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids.' For the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. 📢Important update Eligible people in #Dorset will be able to access Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) weight management medication from autumn 2025. ✅Around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria ✅No need to contact your doctor More: — NHS Dorset (@NHSDorset) June 23, 2025 After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics 'should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases'. Prof Price added: 'We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. 'In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. 'Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further.' Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: 'Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs.' Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: 'Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. 'Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. Recommended reading: 'Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. 'It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. 'More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment.' Who is eligible for Mounjaro on the NHS? At the moment, the rules are very strict, and treatment is being rolled out gradually by NHS England. NICE has recommended tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management for eligible adults living with obesity, who also present with other weight-related health problems, including: dyslipidaemia (abnormal fat levels in the blood) hypertension (high blood pressure) obstructive sleep apnoea (when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep) cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease) type 2 diabetes mellitus Speak to your doctor for more information.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Mounjaro could help obese people control asthma says study
As an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK are now using weight loss drugs. A number of types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including semaglutide, or Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro. Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicing the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like dementia and stroke, with an international team of experts exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: 'People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. 'We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids.' For the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. 📢Important update Eligible people in #Dorset will be able to access Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) weight management medication from autumn 2025. ✅Around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria ✅No need to contact your doctor More: — NHS Dorset (@NHSDorset) June 23, 2025 After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics 'should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases'. Prof Price added: 'We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. 'In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. 'Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further.' Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: 'Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs.' Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: 'Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. 'Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. Recommended reading: 'Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. 'It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. 'More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment.' Who is eligible for Mounjaro on the NHS? At the moment, the rules are very strict, and treatment is being rolled out gradually by NHS England. NICE has recommended tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management for eligible adults living with obesity, who also present with other weight-related health problems, including: dyslipidaemia (abnormal fat levels in the blood) hypertension (high blood pressure) obstructive sleep apnoea (when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep) cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease) type 2 diabetes mellitus Speak to your doctor for more information.
Western Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Weight loss jab Mounjaro linked to lower dementia risk
Academics said the benefits of drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – including for managing weight and blood sugar levels – are well known, but other health benefits of the popular drugs remain 'unclear'. People with type 2 diabetes and obesity who are taking the drugs are also less likely to die prematurely, researchers found. The study saw experts from Taiwan examine date on 60,000 people from around the world, with an average age of 58, who had type 2 diabetes and obesity. Key differences between three weight-loss injections: Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. — Paul Wischmeyer MD (@Paul_Wischmeyer) July 4, 2025 Around half were given GLP agonist drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide – which are sold under the brand names Wegovy and Mounjaro. Semaglutide is also the main ingredient for the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. GLP agonists can reduce a person's appetite; slow down their digestion; reduce the amount of sugar the liver makes and they help the body to make more insulin when needed. The other half used other anti-diabetic medication. 📢Important update Eligible people in #Dorset will be able to access Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) weight management medication from autumn 2025. ✅Around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria ✅No need to contact your doctor More: — NHS Dorset (@NHSDorset) June 23, 2025 During a seven-year follow-up period, researchers found that people given the GLP agonist drugs appeared to have a 37% lower risk of dementia and a 19% reduced risk of stroke. They were also 30% less likely to die during the follow-up period. And when researchers looked at the data further they found even greater benefits in people aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. They found no differences in Parkinson's disease or brain bleeds. The academics said their findings suggest 'potential neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits' of the drugs but they called for more studies to confirm the findings. Recommended reading: 'These findings suggest that semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, potentially improving long-term cognitive and survival outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity,' they wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. Commenting on the study, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'This is a very interesting study adding to evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists are associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'This type of study cannot determine whether the drugs reduced disease risk by directly protecting the brain. 'It is highly likely that effectively treating type 2 diabetes and obesity would reduce dementia and stroke risk as they are known risk factors for these conditions. 'Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with diabetes and obesity and other trials are needed to determine whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes and obesity.' Recommended reading: Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'It is well established that diabetes and obesity can increase your risk of developing dementia. 'This study supports existing evidence that shows these drugs may reduce dementia risk, particularly for people aged 60 and over who are living with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'Although interesting, we can't draw conclusions from this study alone as it is an observational study, only a small number of people who took part went on to develop dementia and as the impact of these drugs on different types of dementia is not clear. 'There are clinical trials currently looking at whether drugs like these can be used to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease, so this is a really exciting area being explored in the research fight against dementia.'
South Wales Argus
16-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Weight loss jab Mounjaro linked to lower dementia risk
Academics said the benefits of drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – including for managing weight and blood sugar levels – are well known, but other health benefits of the popular drugs remain 'unclear'. People with type 2 diabetes and obesity who are taking the drugs are also less likely to die prematurely, researchers found. The study saw experts from Taiwan examine date on 60,000 people from around the world, with an average age of 58, who had type 2 diabetes and obesity. Key differences between three weight-loss injections: Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. — Paul Wischmeyer MD (@Paul_Wischmeyer) July 4, 2025 Around half were given GLP agonist drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide – which are sold under the brand names Wegovy and Mounjaro. Semaglutide is also the main ingredient for the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. GLP agonists can reduce a person's appetite; slow down their digestion; reduce the amount of sugar the liver makes and they help the body to make more insulin when needed. The other half used other anti-diabetic medication. 📢Important update Eligible people in #Dorset will be able to access Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) weight management medication from autumn 2025. ✅Around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria ✅No need to contact your doctor More: — NHS Dorset (@NHSDorset) June 23, 2025 During a seven-year follow-up period, researchers found that people given the GLP agonist drugs appeared to have a 37% lower risk of dementia and a 19% reduced risk of stroke. They were also 30% less likely to die during the follow-up period. And when researchers looked at the data further they found even greater benefits in people aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. They found no differences in Parkinson's disease or brain bleeds. The academics said their findings suggest 'potential neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits' of the drugs but they called for more studies to confirm the findings. Recommended reading: 'These findings suggest that semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, potentially improving long-term cognitive and survival outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity,' they wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. Commenting on the study, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'This is a very interesting study adding to evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists are associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'This type of study cannot determine whether the drugs reduced disease risk by directly protecting the brain. 'It is highly likely that effectively treating type 2 diabetes and obesity would reduce dementia and stroke risk as they are known risk factors for these conditions. 'Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with diabetes and obesity and other trials are needed to determine whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes and obesity.' Recommended reading: Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'It is well established that diabetes and obesity can increase your risk of developing dementia. 'This study supports existing evidence that shows these drugs may reduce dementia risk, particularly for people aged 60 and over who are living with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'Although interesting, we can't draw conclusions from this study alone as it is an observational study, only a small number of people who took part went on to develop dementia and as the impact of these drugs on different types of dementia is not clear. 'There are clinical trials currently looking at whether drugs like these can be used to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease, so this is a really exciting area being explored in the research fight against dementia.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro linked to lower dementia and stroke risk
Weight loss jabs may offer a protective effect against dementia and stroke, according to a new study. Academics said the benefits of drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – including for managing weight and blood sugar levels – are well known, but other health benefits of the popular drugs remain 'unclear'. People with type 2 diabetes and obesity who are taking the drugs are also less likely to die prematurely, researchers found. The study saw experts from Taiwan examine date on 60,000 people from around the world, with an average age of 58, who had type 2 diabetes and obesity. Key differences between three weight-loss injections: Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. — Paul Wischmeyer MD (@Paul_Wischmeyer) July 4, 2025 Around half were given GLP agonist drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide – which are sold under the brand names Wegovy and Mounjaro. Semaglutide is also the main ingredient for the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. GLP agonists can reduce a person's appetite; slow down their digestion; reduce the amount of sugar the liver makes and they help the body to make more insulin when needed. The other half used other anti-diabetic medication. 📢Important update Eligible people in #Dorset will be able to access Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) weight management medication from autumn 2025. ✅Around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria ✅No need to contact your doctor More: — NHS Dorset (@NHSDorset) June 23, 2025 During a seven-year follow-up period, researchers found that people given the GLP agonist drugs appeared to have a 37% lower risk of dementia and a 19% reduced risk of stroke. They were also 30% less likely to die during the follow-up period. And when researchers looked at the data further they found even greater benefits in people aged 60 or older, women, and those with a body mass index score of 30 to 40. They found no differences in Parkinson's disease or brain bleeds. The academics said their findings suggest 'potential neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits' of the drugs but they called for more studies to confirm the findings. Recommended reading: Mounjaro sales adverts banned by watchdog Mounjaro patients report unexpected side-effect Who is eligible for free Mounjaro on the NHS? 'These findings suggest that semaglutide and tirzepatide may offer neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits beyond glycemic control, potentially improving long-term cognitive and survival outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity,' they wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. Commenting on the study, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'This is a very interesting study adding to evidence that GLP1 receptor agonists are associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'This type of study cannot determine whether the drugs reduced disease risk by directly protecting the brain. 'It is highly likely that effectively treating type 2 diabetes and obesity would reduce dementia and stroke risk as they are known risk factors for these conditions. 'Further work is needed including randomised clinical trials to confirm these drugs are protective in people with diabetes and obesity and other trials are needed to determine whether these drugs will be protective in people who do not have type 2 diabetes and obesity.' Recommended reading: When will Mounjaro be rolled out on the NHS? Travel insurance warning about certain types of policy Warning as Mounjaro and Ozempic sold without prescription Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'It is well established that diabetes and obesity can increase your risk of developing dementia. 'This study supports existing evidence that shows these drugs may reduce dementia risk, particularly for people aged 60 and over who are living with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 'Although interesting, we can't draw conclusions from this study alone as it is an observational study, only a small number of people who took part went on to develop dementia and as the impact of these drugs on different types of dementia is not clear. 'There are clinical trials currently looking at whether drugs like these can be used to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease, so this is a really exciting area being explored in the research fight against dementia.'
