**New Hope for Alzheimer’s: Common Medications Show Promise in Early Study**
Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment can feel overwhelming. These conditions gradually affect memory, thinking, and daily functioning. Until recently, treatment options were very limited. However, a new study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine brings hope that two common medications might improve brain health in people showing early signs of Alzheimer’s.
### The Medications Studied
The study focused on two medicines:
– **Empagliflozin** (brand name Jardiance), a drug usually prescribed for diabetes and heart conditions.
– **Intranasal insulin**, a method of delivering insulin directly into the brain through the nose.
While both medicines have been used to treat other health issues, this is the first time they’ve been tested in people with Alzheimer’s who do not have diabetes.
### Study Design and Participants
Researchers enrolled 47 adults, with an average age of 70, all diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease. Over a period of four weeks, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: empagliflozin, nasal insulin, both medications combined, or a placebo.
### Encouraging Results
The findings are promising. Both medications were safe, well-tolerated, and easy for participants to use. Many found the nasal insulin device convenient, and adherence to treatment plans was high.
Each medication demonstrated unique but beneficial effects:
– **Nasal insulin** users showed improved performance on memory tests. Brain scans revealed stronger connections in the white matter and better blood flow in brain regions responsible for memory. Additionally, nasal insulin reduced blood levels of GFAP, a protein marker associated with brain cell damage often elevated in Alzheimer’s patients.
– **Empagliflozin** exhibited positive effects in other areas. It lowered tau protein levels in spinal fluid; tau is known for forming harmful tangles in Alzheimer’s brains. The drug also decreased other markers linked to brain damage and enhanced cerebral blood flow. Furthermore, empagliflozin increased HDL cholesterol—the “good” cholesterol—indicating better metabolism even in participants without diabetes.
Both medications influenced immune system activity and inflammation. They appeared to enhance the body’s ability to protect the brain while reducing harmful inflammation, a significant factor since brain inflammation often worsens Alzheimer’s symptoms.
### How These Medications Work
Empagliflozin helps the body process sugar and salt more efficiently, improving cellular energy use and supporting healthier blood vessels—including those in the brain.
Intranasal insulin enhances communication between brain cells, promotes blood flow, protects white matter, and helps balance the immune system. The nasal device delivers insulin directly to areas of the brain involved in memory, bypassing the bloodstream.
### Why These Findings Matter
Many people with Alzheimer’s experience brain insulin resistance and impaired blood flow, which exacerbate symptoms. These two medications target these underlying issues by improving brain metabolism and circulation, potentially slowing Alzheimer’s-related damage.
Although this was a small and short-term study, it offers early evidence that empagliflozin and intranasal insulin may benefit people with early Alzheimer’s or those at risk. The research team plans larger, longer trials to confirm whether these benefits are sustained over time.
### Potential for Faster Patient Access
Since both empagliflozin and intranasal insulin are already approved and widely used for other conditions—with well-established safety profiles—they might become available to Alzheimer’s patients sooner than entirely new drugs.
### Conclusion
This study highlights the potential of empagliflozin and intranasal insulin as powerful tools in combating Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike treatments that only address symptoms, these medications target root causes like poor metabolism and reduced blood flow in the brain. With further research, they could open new avenues for treatment, helping people with Alzheimer’s live better, healthier lives.
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If you are interested in Alzheimer’s disease research, consider exploring studies on the root causes of Alzheimer’s, the link between glaucoma and Alzheimer’s, and new approaches to treatment. Additionally, recent findings show that fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
This study is published in *Alzheimer’s & Dementia*.
https://knowridge.com/2025/10/two-common-drugs-may-boost-brain-health-in-early-alzheimers/