Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment can be overwhelming.
These conditions slowly affect memory, thinking, and daily functioning. Until recently, treatment options were very limited.
But now, a new study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine gives hope that two common medications might help improve brain health in people with early signs of Alzheimer’s.
The study looked at two medicines: empagliflozin (also known by the brand name Jardiance), a drug usually used for diabetes and heart conditions, and intranasal insulin, which is a way of delivering insulin directly into the brain through the nose.
Although both medicines have been used for other health problems, this is the first time they have been tested in people with Alzheimer’s who do not have diabetes.
Researchers enrolled 47 adults, average age 70, who had mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s. Over four weeks, participants were randomly assigned to take either empagliflozin, nasal insulin, both, or a placebo.
The results were encouraging. The medicines were safe, well-tolerated, and easy to use. People found the nasal insulin device convenient, and most followed their treatment plans closely.
Each medication showed different but helpful effects. People who used nasal insulin performed better on memory tests. Brain scans showed stronger connections in white matter and improved blood flow in parts of the brain responsible for memory.
Nasal insulin also lowered a protein in the blood called GFAP, which is a marker of brain cell damage that is often higher in Alzheimer’s.
Empagliflozin showed promise in other areas. It lowered levels of tau protein in spinal fluid. Tau protein forms harmful tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. It also reduced other markers linked to brain damage and improved blood flow.
Additionally, the drug raised HDL cholesterol, which is known as the “good” cholesterol. This shows that empagliflozin helps improve metabolism, even in people who don’t have diabetes.
Both medicines also affected the immune system and inflammation. They seemed to help the body protect the brain while lowering harmful inflammation. This may be especially important because people with Alzheimer’s often have inflammation in the brain that makes the disease worse.
Empagliflozin works by helping the body process sugar and salt more efficiently. This improves how cells use energy and keeps blood vessels healthier, including those in the brain.
Nasal insulin helps brain cells communicate better, improves blood flow, protects white matter, and balances the immune system. The device used in the study delivers insulin directly to the brain areas involved in memory without needing to go through the bloodstream.
These findings matter because many people with Alzheimer’s have brain insulin resistance and blood flow problems that make symptoms worse. The two medications tested in this study target these underlying problems. By improving metabolism and blood flow in the brain, they may slow the damage caused by Alzheimer’s.
Although this was a small, short-term study, it provides early evidence that these treatments could help people with early Alzheimer’s or those at risk. The research team plans to conduct larger and longer studies to see if the benefits last.
Because both medications are already approved for other health problems and have been used safely by many people, they could potentially be offered to patients sooner than brand-new drugs.
In conclusion, this study shows that empagliflozin and intranasal insulin may become powerful tools in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. They don’t just target the symptoms but also work on the root causes like poor metabolism and weak blood flow in the brain.
With more research, these two well-known medications could open a new path for treating Alzheimer’s and helping people live better lives.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about root cause of Alzheimer’s disease and new treatment and Scientists find the link between eye disease glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease.
For more health information, please read studies about new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease and Fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
The study is published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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