From Neurology Today:
The Neurologic Effects of Those Popular Weight Loss Drugs Come Into Focus
By Dan Hurley
Article In Brief
The results of several studies suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may offer new hope for disease-modifying treatments via mechanisms previously untapped by neurologists. While the benefits may include stroke prevention in patients with diabetes or obesity, the effects on other brain disorders have not yet been reported in phase 3 trials.
Section with Dr. Callaghan:
Brian Callaghan, MD, MS, FAAN, an endowed professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, said he finds the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on neuropathy “incredibly exciting.”
“As someone who studies obesity and neuropathy, I think these medicines are potentially a game changer, but we need large clinical trials to determine their role in neuropathy,” Dr. Callaghan said. “The thing that's not exciting is the cost. These medicines should be more affordable.”
He also pointed out that some studies have found no benefit to exenatide on measures of diabetic neuropathy. He coauthored a 2015 study in the Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications, for instance, which found no significant benefit after 18 months in a proof-of-concept, open-label, randomized trial involving 46 subjects.