GLP-1 RAs, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other Cognitive Disorders

Both diabetes and dementia are highly prevalent age-related diseases. There are approximately 50 million people with dementia worldwide, of whom more than 7 million are estimated to have diabetes. The number of people suffering from dementia is expected to reach 152 million by 2050.

Given the large number of people with Type 2 Diabetes worldwide and the significantly increased risk of dementia in this population, pharmacological treatment that reduces the incidence of Dementia in people with Type 2 Diabetes would be of great importance.

If Alzheimer’s Disease and Type 2 Diabetes share similar mechanisms of development, it is reasonable to assume that anti-diabetic drugs could also be effective in people with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Five experts shed light on the high unmet need for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease, whether cognitive decline is a neglected comorbidity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes, and how the EVOKE trial with the GLP-1 RA semaglutide is designed. Furthermore, the experts speculate on the mode of action of semaglutide in Alzheimer’s Disease, and lastly highlight some practical and clinical aspects.

Experts:
Prof. Tina Vilsbøll, Dr. Salvatore Calanna, Prof. Oliver Peters, Prof. Lotte Bjerre Knudsen & Prof. Jens Juul Holst

Panel Discussion and Interviews, 26 May 2022, Berlin