Liraglutide Dementia: Does Liraglutide Reduce the Risk of Dementia?

Liraglutide, sold under the brand names Victoza^® and Saxenda^®, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar (glucose) and folks with excess weight and obesity lose weight.

Another surprising benefit? Liraglutide may slow cognitive decline in those with mild Alzheimer’s disease — a neurodegenerative condition and the most common form of dementia.

Below, we’ll go over what we know so far about liraglutide dementia benefits and if other types of GLP-1s might help, too.

The rumors are true: Liraglutide may reduce symptoms of dementia. More research is needed, but from what experts know so far, this positive side effect of liraglutide looks promising for reducing cognitive decline in people with mild Alzheimer’s dementia symptoms.

Research on Liraglutide and Dementia

The main findings come from clinical trial data reported at AAIC 2024 (the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference).

The trial was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Victoza and Saxenda. It looked at 204 people with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Half the participants took a 1.8-milligram (mg) liraglutide injection every day for a year, and the other half took a placebo. A total of 166 participants completed a year of treatment.

Participants had MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) of their brains taken, along with other cognitive tests and scans, before treatment and then after 12 months of treatment.

After a year, MRIs showed that people on liraglutide had nearly 50 percent less volume loss in the brain compared to the placebo group. The areas of the brain that showed slowed volume loss are associated with functions like memory, language, and decision-making — all of which can be impaired with Alzheimer’s disease.

“The slower loss of brain volume suggests liraglutide protects the brain, much like statins protect the heart,” said Paul Edison, MD, PhD, professor of science from Imperial College London and lead researcher on the trial.

But that’s not all.

Cognitive tests were done at baseline (the start of the trial) and after 24 weeks and 52 weeks of treatment. These tests showed that people on liraglutide had an 18 percent slower decline in cognitive function by the one-year mark compared to the placebo group.

So, while the liraglutide dementia link is promising, more research is needed. It’s unclear whether liraglutide can improve cognitive measures in those with severe Alzheimer’s disease or if it can reduce the risk of dementia in those without Alzheimer’s disease (say, if you’re taking liraglutide for weight loss).

Liraglutide is approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as a diabetes mellitus and obesity drug. Diabetes and obesity are both risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

More research is needed to know exactly how liraglutide affects the brain and reduces cognitive decline, but experts believe it might work in several ways.

Dr. Edison, lead researcher on the trial mentioned above, said liraglutide may work by:

• Reducing inflammation in the brain

• Lowering insulin resistance

• Reducing the toxic effects of biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease

• Improving how nerve cells in the brain communicate

These changes could slow down dementia symptoms, like impaired memory and decision-making.

When it comes to insulin resistance, the trial didn’t find any significant changes in brain glucose metabolism, but other research has.

Research on Liraglutide and Brain Glucose Metabolism

In a small 2016 study — also funded by Novo Nordisk — 38 people with Alzheimer’s disease took Victoza or a placebo for 26 weeks.

The placebo group saw a decline in glucose metabolism in the brain (a sign of cognitive impairment and disease progression). Those on liraglutide didn’t have this expected decline in brain glucose metabolism.

Though there was no difference between the placebo and liraglutide groups in cognition, the study was small and short. So, again, more research is needed.

Liraglutide isn’t the only GLP-1 receptor agonist with a promising link to brain health. Semaglutide — sold under the brand names Ozempic^®, Wegovy^®, and Rybelsus^® — may also have similar neuroprotective effects.

Research on GLP-1s and Dementia

A 2024 study found that semaglutide can improve memory and learning ability in mice. It also seemed to improve markers of Alzheimer’s disease in mice and human models (not IRL humans, though).

In an observational study, also from 2024, semaglutide was associated with a 40 to 70 percent reduced risk of a first-time Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis compared to other diabetes medications. This study looked at a database of health records of people with type 2 diabetes.

More research is needed — but it’s on its way!

There are currently two Novo Nordisk-funded studies being done on semaglutide in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Both studies will span three years and are looking at whether Rybelsus (a semaglutide pill) has an effect on early Alzheimer’s disease. 

The new research is estimated to be completed in 2026.

The link between liraglutide and dementia appears positive. Research is still in its early days, but from what we know so far, the beneficial effects of liraglutide may extend to brain health.

Here are the key takeaways on liraglutide Alzheimer’s benefits:

• Liraglutide may improve dementia symptoms. Research suggests it might slow cognitive decline and brain volume loss in those with mild Alzheimer’s disease. It’s unclear if it could be beneficial for folks with more-than-mild cognitive impairment.

• Liraglutide can manage diabetes and treat obesity. Both conditions are risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Liraglutide may support brain function in other ways, too, like improving nerve cell communication and reducing the toxic effects of Alzheimer’s biomarkers.

• Other GLP-1 analogue drugs hold the same promise. Semaglutide may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in those with type 2 diabetes, and research on mice shows it might improve memory and learning. Again, further research is needed.

If you’re looking into liraglutide as a weight loss medication, there’s plenty of research supporting that use. It’s also not your only option.

Hers offers a range of treatments, including injectable and oral weight loss meds, to help you reach your weight loss goals and improve overall health. You can take our free online weight loss assessment to discover which treatment would suit you best.