Semaglutide May Aid Smoking Cessation and Dementia

Recent studies suggest that semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, may help reduce tobacco addiction in smokers with type 2 diabetes. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University analyzed the health records of nearly 229,000 patients and found that those prescribed semaglutide were significantly less likely to seek medical help for tobacco use disorder, receive smoking cessation counseling, or be prescribed smoking cessation medications. These findings align with anecdotal evidence and previous studies indicating that GLP-1 drugs can curb addictions to substances like tobacco and alcohol. Further clinical trials are recommended to confirm semaglutide's efficacy in treating tobacco use disorder. Additionally, early research indicates that semaglutide might also protect against cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients, suggesting broader therapeutic potential for these drugs.