Recent research has revealed that individuals with diabetes who take medications commonly used for weight loss are less likely to develop 42 health conditions, including dementia and psychotic disorders. The study, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, suggests that the drugs, found in injections like Saxenda, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, could have far-reaching implications for treating a variety of health issues.
The research, led by scientists at Washington University in St. Louis, showed that people with diabetes who were prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)—drugs such as liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide—were at a significantly reduced risk for conditions such as infections, psychosis, and dementia. The study compared the health outcomes of individuals with diabetes who received standard care with those who were additionally treated with these medications.
The study’s findings suggest that GLP-1RAs could have broader uses, potentially benefiting not just people with diabetes, but also individuals using these drugs for weight management, such as those struggling with obesity. “Although we studied individuals with diabetes, there’s no biological or clinical reason to assume the results wouldn’t apply to non-diabetic individuals using these medications,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a co-author of the study.
However, Dr. Al-Aly cautioned that individuals without obesity may not experience the full range of benefits associated with weight loss seen in those with higher body mass indices. Some of the observed health improvements, particularly the reduction in conditions like arthritis, may be linked to weight reduction, although risks must be considered alongside the benefits.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, covering over 1.4 million individuals. The team assessed a wide range of health outcomes across 175 conditions. The research showed that GLP-1RAs were associated with a 13% reduction in the risk of opioid-use disorders, a 19% reduction in bulimia, an 18% reduction in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and a 12% reduction in Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, there was a 12% drop in the likelihood of bacterial infections.
However, the study also uncovered a higher risk of 19 other conditions, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and kidney stones, among individuals using GLP-1RAs. The team noted that while some of these results were expected, others, such as the reduction in infections, were surprising.
Interestingly, while weight loss is often linked to reduced arthritis risk due to less pressure on the joints, the study revealed that those taking GLP-1RAs had an increased risk of arthritis. Dr. Al-Aly suggested that this might be due to muscle mass loss and physical deconditioning caused by rapid weight loss, although he stressed that more research is needed in this area.
The study also compared the health impacts of GLP-1RAs with other common anti-diabetic medications, again showing a reduced risk for some conditions but a heightened risk for others. These findings may offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of diseases that were previously not fully understood, potentially opening doors to new treatment options.
This research follows ongoing investigations into the broader benefits of GLP-1RAs, with scientists already exploring their potential in treating conditions such as dementia and cancer. Prof. Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the need for randomized trials to confirm these findings. He pointed out that some of the benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart attacks, have already been proven in trials. “As more trials are conducted, we will learn more about these medications, particularly in terms of their substantial weight loss effects, which will help us better understand their overall benefits, safety, and potential for broader use,” he said.
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