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Can Liraglutide and Other GLP-1 Medicines Slow Alzheimer’s Disease?

GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide are best known for their role in managing type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss. However, emerging research suggests these medicines may also have a role to play in neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. This growing area of research is attracting attention from clinicians, researchers and patients alike.

Important: Liraglutide (and other GLP-1 medicines) are not licensed to treat Alzheimer’s disease. This article is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. Any use for Alzheimer’s would be off-label/experimental and should only occur within appropriate clinical oversight or research settings.

What Is Liraglutide?

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. It works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone involved in appetite regulation, insulin secretion and glucose control. In the UK, it is licensed for:

  • Type 2 diabetes management, and
  • Weight management in adults with obesity or weight-related health risks.

Beyond metabolic effects, GLP-1 receptors are also found in the brain, which has prompted research into their potential neurological benefits.

Over the last decade, scientists have explored whether GLP-1 medicines could protect brain cells and slow neurodegeneration. Interest has grown because Alzheimer’s disease is associated not only with protein build-up in the brain, but also with insulin resistance, inflammation and impaired energy use in brain tissue.

GLP-1 receptor agonists may influence these processes by:

  • Reducing chronic inflammation in the brain
  • Improving insulin signalling and glucose metabolism
  • Supporting neuronal survival and function

Key Findings: Liraglutide and Alzheimer’s Disease

Slower Brain Shrinkage

A phase 2b clinical trial led by researchers at Imperial College London reported that people with Alzheimer’s disease who received liraglutide for 12 months had less brain volume loss than those given a placebo.

In this study, the authors reported differences that were described publicly as around 50% less brain shrinkage in some regions; interpretation depends on the specific brain regions and analysis approach used.

Cognitive Decline

Participants treated with liraglutide also showed a slower decline in some measures of cognitive function over the study period. Liraglutide did not reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms, and the findings need confirmation in further studies.

These results were published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and represent one of the strongest recent signals linking a GLP-1 medicine with measurable changes in Alzheimer’s-related markers.

Supporting Evidence From Other Studies

Research linking liraglutide and Alzheimer’s disease is not limited to a single trial:

  • Earlier studies and trial reports suggest liraglutide was generally well tolerated in people with Alzheimer’s disease, without unexpected safety signals in those settings.
  • Reviews and conference discussions describe neuroprotective signals (for example, brain imaging or cognition-related trends), but emphasise the need for larger confirmatory trials.
  • Pre-clinical studies in animal models suggest GLP-1 pathways may influence neuroinflammation and synaptic function, supporting continued investigation rather than routine clinical use for Alzheimer’s disease.

Together, these findings support further investigation rather than immediate clinical use.

What About Semaglutide and Tirzepatide?

Not all GLP-1 medicines have shown the same results.

Semaglutide

Large trials investigating semaglutide for Alzheimer’s did not show a meaningful slowing of disease progression, and development for this indication was reported as discontinued.

Tirzepatide

For tirzepatide (a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist), the interest in Alzheimer’s is currently more theoretical and early-stage. Published discussions include mechanistic rationale and review-level summaries, rather than definitive clinical outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease.

This highlights an important point: GLP-1-related medicines are not interchangeable when it comes to potential brain effects, and findings with one medicine should not be assumed for another.

What This Means for Patients

  • Liraglutide is not approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Its use for this purpose remains experimental.
  • Current findings are encouraging but early, and larger trials are needed to confirm benefits and identify which patients may respond best.
  • If you or a family member is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, discuss treatment options with an appropriate clinician. Organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Association provide plain-language updates on this topic.

The idea that a well-known diabetes and weight-management medicine could help slow Alzheimer’s disease is a promising direction for research. While liraglutide is not a cure, early data suggest potential signals relating to brain atrophy and some cognitive measures, which now require confirmation in larger studies.

View sources

  1. Nature Medicine – Liraglutide in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04106-7
  2. Alzheimer’s Research UK – Could diabetes and weight loss drugs treat Alzheimer’s disease? https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/could-diabetes-and-weight-loss-drugs-treat-alzheimers-disease/
  3. Imperial College London – Weight-loss drug liraglutide slowed Alzheimer’s decline https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/articles/2025/-weight-loss-drug-liraglutide-slowed-alzheimers-decline/
  4. PubMed Central – Liraglutide in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12823385/
  5. SAGE Journals – Clinical evidence for GLP-1 receptor agonists in neurodegenerative disease https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3233/ADR-230181
  6. UK Dementia Research Institute – Semaglutide does not slow Alzheimer’s disease https://www.ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-events/uk-dementia-research-institute-responds-news-semaglutide-does-not-slow-alzheimers
  7. PubMed Central – Tirzepatide: a novel therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12159100/

Written by Gintare Sukyte
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