Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications, already popular for weight loss and diabetes management, are now under intense scrutiny for their potential in treating addiction and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. This unexpected development follows promising early findings about the brain-related benefits of these drugs.
Luba Yammine, PhD, a researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth Houston), first noticed an intriguing effect in her patients with chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Many of them, who were also smokers, reported reduced cravings or complete cessation of smoking after beginning treatment with GLP-1 medications. Initially approved by the FDA in 2005 for diabetes treatment, GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, are now increasingly prescribed for weight loss, drawing attention from researchers exploring their broader therapeutic potential.
Yammine’s observations set her on a path to study how GLP-1 medications could help treat addiction. Her findings come alongside similar research exploring the drugs’ effectiveness against alcohol use disorder, opioid addiction, and even the risk of dementia.
While the full scope of GLP-1’s impact on the brain remains an ongoing area of study, the preliminary data is promising. Researchers suggest that these drugs may not only curb cravings but could also play a significant role in addressing neurological disorders.
Tackling Cravings: A New Approach to Addiction
GLP-1 medications function by mimicking a natural hormone that signals satiety after eating. Beyond regulating appetite, GLP-1 receptors are found throughout the body, including in the brain, where they are believed to influence reward systems linked to cravings for substances like nicotine, alcohol, and opioids.
Patricia “Sue” Grigson, PhD, a neuroscience expert at Penn State College of Medicine, has studied the effects of GLP-1 agonists on addiction. In preclinical studies with rodents, Grigson and her colleague Scott Bunce, PhD, found that GLP-1 agonists significantly reduced heroin consumption and the likelihood of relapse in response to drug-related cues and stress.
Building on these findings, Bunce conducted a small trial to assess the drugs’ effects on opioid use disorder (OUD). Participants receiving GLP-1 agonists reported a 40% reduction in cravings after three weeks, and this effect was noticeable even at low doses early in the treatment process. The promising results led to an expansion of the study, with larger trials underway across multiple outpatient clinics.
Bunce, who has seen positive outcomes in patients using GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, notes that the medications help mitigate the mental “noise” that often drives addiction. “It allows patients to make better choices,” he says, cautiously optimistic about the drug’s potential to help manage OUD, a condition that claimed nearly 87,000 lives in the United States in 2024.
Beyond Addiction: Potential Benefits for Brain Health
Research also suggests that GLP-1 may help preserve brain health by regulating inflammation and preventing cell death, two factors that contribute to cognitive decline. Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD, a leading expert in Alzheimer’s research at the Mayo Clinic, sees potential for GLP-1 medications to slow the progression of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. He points to a recent analysis that found GLP-1 agonist users with diabetes had a lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s.
Preclinical studies have even indicated that GLP-1 drugs may help prevent the formation of tau tangles and amyloid plaques—key markers of Alzheimer’s. While researchers emphasize the need for further trials, the findings are generating excitement about the possibility of using GLP-1 drugs as part of a multi-faceted approach to combating cognitive decline.
In fact, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer behind Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently conducting a clinical trial to explore the effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, on Alzheimer’s patients. Initial trials of similar drugs have shown encouraging results, with some patients exhibiting slower cognitive decline and reduced brain shrinkage.
A Word of Caution
Despite the growing enthusiasm, experts warn against drawing premature conclusions. The use of GLP-1 medications for addiction and dementia is still in its early stages, and more research is necessary to assess long-term safety and efficacy. Moreover, the high cost of these medications remains a significant barrier for many patients. In the U.S., the price of Wegovy can exceed $1,350 for a monthly supply, although Novo Nordisk recently launched a more affordable option for uninsured patients.
GLP-1 agonists also come with side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal issues, as well as more severe risks like pancreatitis and gallbladder disorders. A recent analysis of insurance data revealed that about 50% of GLP-1 users stopped treatment within 12 weeks, with some regaining weight once the medication was discontinued.
Researchers like Grigson caution against using these medications off-label until further studies are completed. She emphasizes the importance of ongoing clinical trials to gather data that will guide future treatment guidelines.
Looking Forward
The potential of GLP-1 agonists to treat addiction and dementia is still unfolding. While preliminary research is promising, experts stress that these medications will not be a universal solution. However, for conditions with limited treatment options, such as opioid addiction and Alzheimer’s disease, GLP-1 drugs offer a glimmer of hope.
As research continues, Yammine remains optimistic about the role these medications could play in expanding the available treatment options for addiction. “These medications can make a huge difference in the treatment of addiction,” she says, “and that’s why we’re doing the research we are doing.”
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