Ozempic linked to lower Alzheimer's risk in people with Type 2 diabetes
UC expert comments on study to NBC News
The University of Cincinnati's Alberto Espay, MD, commented to NBC News on new research published Oct. 24 that found semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, appeared to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Type 2 diabetes.
The new study compared semaglutide to seven other diabetes drugs, including metformin, insulin and older GLP-1 drugs, including liraglutide.
Researchers found that patients prescribed semaglutide had a significantly lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease than those who had taken one of the seven other diabetes drugs. The results were consistent across gender, age and weight.
Espay, who was not involved in the study, told NBC News more research is needed to determine if the drugs actually work against Alzheimer's. He noted previous early research showed similar positive effects for people who took drugs including statins or insulin, but none of those potential treatments panned out.
“Just as with statins, NSAIDs and insulin, we should be cautious about claiming semaglutide can treat or prevent Alzheimer’s based on this study alone,” Espay said.
Featured photo at top of a semaglutide injection pen. Photo/aprott/iStock.
Related Stories
What Is Public Health Nursing? Career path and whether it’s right for you
April 6, 2026
When nurses consider graduate school, many immediately think of becoming a nurse practitioner. But there is another advanced path that is growing in demand, one focused not on treating individual patients, but on improving the health of entire communities: public health nursing.
What is the 'cicada' COVID variant?
April 6, 2026
A formerly rare strain of COVID, BA.3.2, now is showing up in Ohio and 24 other states. Experts say so far it hasn't caused illness any more severe than other strains, but it might be somewhat more resistant to vaccines, as 91.7 WVXU News recently reported. Scientists have nicknamed the variant "cicada" due to its former low profile and current resurgence.
UC opens zebrafish research facility to study infertility
April 6, 2026
The University of Cincinnati is launching a state-of-the-art zebrafish research facility that scientists say could help explain how environmental toxins affect fertility, as WKRC-TV/Local 12 and WLWT-TV/Ch. 5 recently reported.