Weight-loss drugs among breakthrough trials offering ‘hope’ for dementia prevention
The surprising new effect scientists hope weight loss drugs will have on dementia
- Clinical trials in 2025 are assessing 138 treatments for dementia and Alzheimer’s, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year, offering "hope" for prevention and treatment.
- One trial is examining whether semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, can slow dementia progression.
- Experts suggest 2025 could be a "landmark year" due to four drugs in large clinical trials that aim to prevent dementia, not just treat it.
- The trials include drugs targeting amyloid protein build-up, a key characteristic of Alzheimer's, with the aim of providing treatments earlier to those with a genetic risk.
- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is reviewing donanemab and lecanemab, previously deemed not cost-effective, with a decision expected in the summer.