Evidence suggests that the drugs classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists — a category that includes brand names such as Mounjaro and Wegovy — can reduce inflammation in the liver, kidneys and heart. The drugs even seem to dial down inflammation in the brain, leading scientists to hope that the compounds could be used to treat Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, both of which are characterized by brain inflammation. A recent review listed more than 20 clinical trials that are exploring the drugs as therapies for the two conditions.
The reductions in body weight and blood sugar that the drugs trigger probably help to control inflammation. But some of the drugs’ anti-inflammatory effects start even before meaningful weight loss is achieved. This is why scientists think there’s a separate mechanism at play.
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Excessive inflammation can contribute to disease, [pharmacologist at the National Institues of Health in Baltimore Nigel] Greig says. But GLP-1 receptor agonists seem to have the ability to knock back inflammation in the brain so that important processes, such as the birth of new neurons, can continue to occur, he notes.
