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Exploring the link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and dementia: A comprehensive review
Chuansangeam M, Phadungsaksawasdi P, Park HJ, Yang YH.. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports, 2025-01-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), originally developed for glycemic control, are emerging as neuroprotective agents. This review evaluates the evidence regarding the effects of GLP-1RAs in populations with T2DM-both with and without cognitive impairment, as well as in individuals diagnosed with AD. We conducted a comprehensive literature search and identified ten studies for inclusion: six randomized controlled trials, one prospective open-label study, and three observational studies. GLP-1RAs consistently demonstrated cognitive benefits in patients with T2DM, even in the absence of metabolic improvements. In cases of early dementia or AD, GLP-1RA treatment preserved brain metabolism and connectivity but did not significantly alter amyloid or tau biomarkers. Notably, cognitive improvements were most evident in individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) or obesity. While some studies reported neural functional changes via imaging, direct modifications in established AD biomarkers were not consistently observed. In conclusion, GLP-1RAs may improve cognitive outcomes and brain function, particularly in the early stages of neurodegeneration and among high-risk T2DM populations. Further well-designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate the impacts of GLP-1RAs on both the clinical progression and underlying pathology of dementia.
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APA 7th
Chuansangeam, M., Phadungsaksawasdi, P., Park, H. J., & Yang, Y. H. (2025). Exploring the link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and dementia: A comprehensive review. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/25424823251342182
Vancouver
Chuansangeam M, Phadungsaksawasdi P, Park HJ, Yang YH. Exploring the link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and dementia: A comprehensive review. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports. 2025. doi:10.1177/25424823251342182. PMID: 40370762.
BibTeX
@article{chuansangeam2025-40370762,
author = {Chuansangeam, M. and Phadungsaksawasdi, P. and Park, H. J. and Yang, Y. H.},
title = {{Exploring the link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and dementia: A comprehensive review}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/25424823251342182},
pmid = {40370762},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/25424823251342182}
}
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Key findings
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- GLP-1RAs consistently demonstrated cognitive benefits in patients with T2DM, even in the absence of metabolic improvements.
- In cases of early dementia or AD, GLP-1RA treatment preserved brain metabolism and connectivity but did not significantly alter amyloid or tau biomarkers.
- In conclusion, GLP-1RAs may improve cognitive outcomes and brain function, particularly in the early stages of neurodegeneration and among high-risk T2DM populations.
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Study details
- Study designopen-label trial
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multicenter collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 30 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 52 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “open-label trial”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multicenter collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40370762) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 30 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 30 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 52 out of 100. |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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