• Oxford study finds Ozempic does not impair brain health and may reduce cognitive problems and nicotine dependence.
  • It also indicates Ozempic does not increase risks of dementia, depression, or anxiety, offering potential benefits beyond diabetes management.

A recent Oxford study revealed Novo Nordisk’s widely used drug Ozempic doesn’t impair brain health and is connected to a lower risk of cognitive problems and reduced nicotine dependence. The research also found that Ozempic did not show an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric conditions like dementia, depression, or anxiety, compared to other widely used diabetes medications.

The study, published in the Lancet's eClinicalMedicine journal, was carried out by researchers at The University of Oxford with support from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre and the Medical Research Council. 

Ozempic, generically called semaglutide, is a medication used for managing type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is a type of GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps control blood sugar by increasing the production of insulin, decreasing glucagon secretion, and slowing the digestion process.

“Our results suggest that semaglutide use could extend beyond managing diabetes, potentially offering unexpected benefits in the treatment and prevention of cognitive decline and substance misuse,” said Dr Riccardo De Giorgi, the lead author of the study.

Dr. De Giorgi also stated that the study's findings reassure millions of patients using semaglutide for diabetes. If confirmed, the results could also improve public healthcare by lowering cognitive issues and smoking rates among diabetes patients.

The detailed study analyzed over 100 million patient records in the USA. The study aimed to estimate the risks of  22 neurological and psychiatric outcomes within a year of a first semaglutide prescription for patients with T2DM and to compare these risks with those from a first prescription of three other common diabetes medications.

However, Dr. De Giorgi points out that while Ozempic is also prescribed for obesity and some diabetes patients may be overweight, the results of this study are not relevant to people who do not have diabetes.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah