Empagliflozin and insulin spray protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease.
Two existing medications — the anti-diabetic drug empagliflozin and an insulin nasal spray — have shown the ability to protect the brain from early changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The results of a clinical study conducted by scientists from Wake Forest University (USA) were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia (A&D).
The four-week trial involved 47 participants aged 55 to 85, who exhibited mild cognitive impairment or early signs of dementia. Participants were divided into four groups — those receiving empagliflozin, the insulin spray, a combination of the medications, or a placebo. Despite its small scale, the study demonstrated that both medications affect different links in metabolism, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and help preserve cognitive functions.
Empagliflozin reduced the level of tau protein in the cerebrospinal fluid — a key marker of neurodegeneration, while the insulin spray improved memory and connections between brain areas responsible for thinking. According to the study leader, Professor Susan Craft, the results confirm that "correction of metabolic processes can change the course of Alzheimer’s disease."
The researchers emphasize that the medications were well-tolerated by participants and did not cause serious side effects. The team now plans large-scale and long-term clinical trials to determine whether these accessible medications can become part of a comprehensive therapy to slow cognitive aging.
