Scientists are launching trials to study whether Ozempic and Wegovy can treat alcoholism, drug addiction and even DEMENTIA
- It reduces dopamine release in the brain, which prompts us to eat or drink more
- Mounting evidence suggests that millions could use it to beat their addiction
- READ MORE: Ozempic is FIVE TIMES more expensive in the US than in Japan
While Ozempic has taken the U.S. by storm because it’s touted as a magical weight loss remedy, scientists are now curious about whether it could also be used to treat other health conditions such as alcoholism, drug addiction and even dementia.
Semaglutide injection, the active ingredient in Ozempic, is approved to treat diabetics to lower blood sugar levels. However, it is becoming increasingly popular as an off-label weight loss medication despite a variety of unpleasant side effects.
While people have anecdotally suggested that the drug has helped them quit unwanted long-term habits in addition to their binge eating, Ozempic’s powers are being tested in clinical trials on humans, including alcohol addiction and dementia.
One of the researchers involved in the studies, Kyle Simmons, professor of pharmacology and physiology at the Oklahoma State University said If the study results are positive, “it’s hard to overstate the impact this will have in the field.” [of addiction medicine].’
Now Ozempic’s powers are being tested in human clinical trials for things like alcohol addiction and even dementia
Henry Webb of North Carolina completed two months of treatment with Wegovy, an Ozempic-like drug, after reaching his weight goal. He used to have a few drinks in the evening, but said: “With the medication, I didn’t feel like it at all.”
Ozempic helps people lose weight by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which curbs hunger and slows the rate at which a person’s stomach empties, leaving them feeling fuller for longer.
However, experts say it can also lower dopamine levels Reward hormone released in the brain. A decrease in hormone levels could lead to a decline “Feel good” element for giving in to unhealthy cravings or behaviors.
Professor Simmons is currently leading a study testing semaglutide’s ability to reduce people’s alcohol consumption. Another separate study is also taking place at the University of Baltimore.
Simmons suspected that the drug might blunt the brain’s reward signals in a way that means it limits people’s ability to feel pleasure, not just from food, but from anything.
“If this drug is used by more and more people and it causes a general loss of interest in pleasure, that may not be a good thing, for example for people who have suffered from severe depression in the past,” he told CNBC.
However, more research is needed to understand semaglutide’s effects on the brain, Simmons added.
Christian Hendershot, director of the translational addiction research program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is also studying whether or not the appetite-regulating mechanism might help with alcohol and drug addiction.
He hopes to publish initial results next year and said: “There is reason for optimism, particularly given the reports. “Now our job is to carry out the research to validate these results with clinical data.”
Meanwhile, a study at the University of Oxford is testing semaglutide in patients who are at risk of developing dementia because their brains have high levels of a certain protein linked to dementia. Researchers are studying whether the drug can reduce the amount of the protein and calm inflammation, another marker linked to a high risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.