Parkinson's treatment potential found in Diabetes medication

A study suggests that a diabetes medication could potentially decelerate the advancement of Parkinson's disease, marking a notable stride in its future management. Patients administered lixisenatide exhibited reduced progression of motor symptoms, including tremors and slowed movement. This treatment falls under the category of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1R agonists), sharing similarities with diabetes and weight-loss medications like Ozempic and semaglutide.
Professors Wassilios Meissner and Olivier Rascol, principal investigators of the study, said: “For 30 years, we have been trying to understand how to slow the decline associated with Parkinson’s disease over time.”
The findings “constitute a significant step forward in the future management of the disease”, the researchers added.
Research has established a connection between Parkinson's and type 2 diabetes, indicating that individuals with diabetes face an elevated risk of developing Parkinson's. Moreover, those with both conditions often experience a hastened progression of symptoms. However, individuals treated with medications like GLP-1R agonists, such as lixisenatide, show a reduced likelihood of developing Parkinson's. These agonists imitate the action of a natural gut hormone released post-meal, stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas, thereby aiding glucose absorption by cells. The researchers underscored the need for more extensive trials before clinical authorisation. In the study comprising 156 recently diagnosed Parkinson's patients, participants received either lixisenatide or a placebo alongside their standard Parkinson's medication.