**New Research Finds Weight-Loss Medications Linked to Significant Drop in Dementia and Stroke Risk**
A comprehensive new study has revealed that medications commonly used for weight-loss, including brands such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, may provide substantial protective benefits against both dementia and stroke for individuals living with obesity and type 2 diabetes. According to researchers, those using these drugs experienced a 37 per cent reduction in the likelihood of developing dementia and a 19 per cent lower risk of suffering a stroke over a seven-year period.
The drugs under scrutiny, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists – specifically semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro) – are already well-established in clinical practice for their ability to support weight loss and glycaemic (blood sugar) control. However, their potential to offer wider health benefits has until now been less clear.
The global research effort involved the analysis of health records from nearly 60,000 individuals across multiple countries, all of whom were living with both obesity and type 2 diabetes. Participants, with an average age of 58, were divided into two groups: one group received GLP-1 agonist drugs, while the other was prescribed alternative anti-diabetic medications.
Over the course of seven years, researchers tracked the health outcomes of each participant. The findings suggest those on GLP-1 medications not only had notably lower rates of dementia and stroke, but were also 30 per cent less likely to die from any cause during the follow-up period. The study went further, finding even more pronounced benefits among older adults – particularly in those aged over 60, women, and those with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Network Open, did not observe any differences between the groups in relation to the incidence of Parkinson’s disease or brain bleeding events. Researchers posited that these results might point to broader neuroprotective and vascular benefits that extend beyond managing diabetes and weight alone.
Despite these promising observations, academics have been keen to emphasise that further investigation is necessary. In the study, the authors cautioned, “More research is needed to confirm these findings and to establish the precise mechanisms at play.” They also noted that while the correlation is significant, studies like this cannot definitively prove that the medications themselves are directly responsible for lowering dementia risk.
Experts in the field have welcomed the study’s insights, but have echoed calls for caution. Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and a lead investigator at the UK Dementia Research Institute, commented, “While this is a compelling addition to the growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists may help lower dementia risk in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, we can’t yet be sure whether the effect is due to the drugs themselves or simply better management of known risk factors.”
Professor Spires-Jones highlighted that further research, including large-scale randomised clinical trials, will be required to properly assess whether these medications offer direct protection to the brain and whether they could also be beneficial for people without diabetes or obesity. These future studies would need to explore not only the potential benefits but also any possible side effects or long-term risks.
This latest investigation provides hope for people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes who are already taking these widely-used weight-loss medications, suggesting they may be gaining more health advantages than previously understood. However, until more research is conducted, medical professionals advise patients to continue using these drugs based on each individual’s specific medical needs and current guidelines.
Meanwhile, as growing numbers of patients in the UK and around the world turn to weight-loss jabs to manage their health, the wider implications for public health policy and future clinical guidelines are likely to come under increasing scrutiny.