Can This Common Diabetes Drug Prevent Stroke? Emerging Data Suggests Strong Link

Three studies presented at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's 22nd Annual Meeting and published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery have uncovered promising findings on the potential benefits of GLP-1 inhibitors, such as semaglutide (Ozempic), in reducing stroke risk and improving outcomes after brain injury. These medications, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, are known for lowering blood sugar and aiding in weight loss. Now, they may also offer neuroprotective effects for stroke patients.

In the first study researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison used data from both a global health database and their own medical center. They compared stroke outcomes between patients who used Ozempic and those who did not. Among 2,021,704 global stroke patients, 43,338 were Ozempic users. Only 5.26% of these patients initially died from their strokes, compared to 21.61% of non-users. Long-term survival was also higher among users—77.5% versus 30.95%. The university dataset echoed these results, showing a 5.26% death rate among Ozempic users versus 26.57% for non-users.