A brand new examine highlighted Monday the potential advantages of widespread diabetes medication on a variety of well being points together with dementia and cardiovascular illnesses, though specialists warned in opposition to seeing them as miracle medication.
The examine revealed in Nature Drugs is exclusive in its scope, marking a milestone within the examine of new-generation weight-loss medication equivalent to Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which have already considerably revolutionised the combat in opposition to weight problems.
“No one had comprehensively investigated the effectiveness and the risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists across all health outcomes,” stated epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Aly at a press convention Monday.
GLP-1 medicines, which first got here in the marketplace a few decade in the past, fight weight problems and associated circumstances by mimicking the perform of a hormone that secretes insulin, slows down the emptying of the abdomen and suppresses urge for food.
They’re extensively thought of as one of many nice medical developments of the previous few years, producing colossal revenues for drugmakers equivalent to Novo Nordisk (Ozempic/Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro).
A number of research had already proven that their advantages may transcend weight reduction and diabetes.
These research confirmed that sufferers taking GLP-1 remedy fared higher in opposition to a variety of well being issues equivalent to dementia, cardiovascular illnesses or alcohol habit.
Monday’s huge examine confirmed the findings of the earlier analysis, additionally bringing extra particular details about the medication’ promising results.
Researchers carried out their investigation in the US, utilizing well being knowledge from a whole lot of hundreds of veterans.
They in contrast two teams of diabetics: one receiving commonplace remedy, the opposite on GLP-1 remedy.
The GLP-1 sufferers had “a decrease threat of drug use, psychological or convulsive issues, neurocognitive issues, together with Alzheimer’s illness and different kinds of dementia, coagulation and cardiometabolic issues, infectious illnesses and numerous respiratory pathologies,” the examine discovered.
A variety of results
Weight problems is related to a number of well being issues, stated Al-Aly, the epidemiologist, and GLP-1 medication assist sufferers drop pounds.
However the researcher stated the medication may additionally probably have a extra direct influence.
“Biology is complex and GLP-1 receptors in the body are not controlling one thing” Al-Aly stated.
Monday’s examine marks a serious milestone.
Till now, work on the potential of GLP-1 was scattered and no examine had given such a broad overview of the medication.
It additionally partially solutions questions on the dangers related to such a remedy.
Sufferers taking GLP-1 typically encounter digestive issues, nonetheless they do not appear to have extra suicidal ideas than others, as had been reported in earlier research.
However researchers say it’s far too early to think about that these medication will turn out to be some type of magical remedy for numerous illnesses.
The examine drew its observations from individuals who had been prescribed the remedy, and would not enable for the institution of a causal hyperlink between the medication and the illnesses.
For that, full scientific assessments, which might take years, could be vital. And never all well being issues obtain the identical degree of consideration.
Some scientific assessments for cardiovascular issues have offered good outcomes and a few are additionally properly underway on Alzheimer’s illness.
However in different areas, equivalent to alcohol habit, little or no is being completed.
Additionally, the Nature Drugs examine focuses on sufferers with a really particular profile, typically older males, supposedly all diabetic.
It’s due to this fact unimaginable at this stage to generalise its conclusions.
Lastly, the medication’ results are sometimes gentle – in instances of dementia, the danger is lowered by simply over one tenth.
“It’s important work,” pharmacologist Dipender Gill, who didn’t take part within the examine however labored for years for Novo Nordisk, informed AFP.
“The authors are clear that the research is exploratory, and to be used for discovery purposes.”
Gill cautioned that no affected person ought to search to take GLP-1 medication primarily based solely on the guarantees of this examine.
