The mechanism and efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Haiyang Du; Xiaoyu Meng; Yu Yao; Jun Xu

doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1033479

The mechanism and efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Nov 17:13:1033479. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1033479. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Haiyang Du¹, Xiaoyu Meng^{2

3}, Yu Yao¹, Jun Xu¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
² Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
³ Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hubei, China.

Abstract

Since type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and both have the same pathogenesis (e.g., insulin resistance), drugs used to treat T2DM have been gradually found to reduce the progression of AD in AD models. Of these drugs, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are more effective and have fewer side effects. GLP-1R agonists have reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, neurotrophic effects, decreasing Aβ deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation in AD models, which may be a potential drug for the treatment of AD. However, this needs to be verified by further clinical trials. This study aims to summarize the current information on the mechanisms and effects of GLP-1R agonists in AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; GLP-1R agonists; amyloid beta; cognitive function; tau phosphorylation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease* / drug therapy
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / complications
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
Humans
Insulin Resistance*

Substances

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor