Can Popular Weight-Loss Jabs Also Protect Your Brain? New Study Suggests They Might

What Patients Should Know

If you’re already taking semaglutide or tirzepatide for diabetes or weight management, this study offers an encouraging hint at added benefits. But it’s not a guarantee, and it shouldn’t replace other proven strategies to reduce dementia and stroke risk, like managing blood pressure, staying active, eating well, and not smoking.

The Bottom Line

These blockbuster weight-loss jabs may turn out to do more than anyone expected, but the science isn’t finished yet. If you’re curious about whether they’re right for you, have an open chat with your healthcare provider.

Why This Matters

GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide have already revolutionised diabetes and obesity treatment, thanks to their ability to help with weight loss and blood sugar control. But their potential to protect the brain and reduce stroke risk could be a game-changer, especially given how common these conditions are in people with diabetes.

“People with type 2 diabetes face higher risks of dementia and stroke, so anything that lowers that risk is a big deal,” said the study’s authors.

But There’s a Catch

This was a retrospective observational study, meaning it looked back at existing patient records rather than testing the drugs in a controlled trial. While the results are promising, they can’t prove that the medications themselves caused the lower risks.

Doctors warn against seeing these results as a green light for everyone to start these drugs purely for brain health.

“Everyone’s body responds differently, so always speak to your prescribing professional if you're unsure,” experts say.

The study’s authors agree that more research, especially randomised controlled trials, is needed to confirm these effects.

A new study suggests that two of the most talked-about weight-loss and diabetes drugs, semaglutide (found in Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), may do more than slim waistlines and lower blood sugar. They could also reduce the risk of dementia, stroke, and even early death for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Published this month in JAMA Network Open, the study examined electronic health records from more than 60,000 adults in the United States. The researchers compared patients aged 40 and older who were prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide with those taking other diabetes medications over a period of seven years.

What They Found

People on semaglutide or tirzepatide had a 37% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those on other diabetes drugs.
They had a 19% lower risk of ischemic stroke (the most common type of stroke).
They also had a 30% lower risk of dying from any cause during the follow-up period.

The study did not find any significant difference in the risk of Parkinson’s disease or brain haemorrhages.

Interestingly, the benefits appeared strongest in people over 60, women, and those with a BMI between 30 and 40.

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