Liraglutide in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a phase 2b clinical trial.

Edison P, Femminella GD, Ritchie C, Nowell J, Holmes C, Walker Z, Ridha B, Raza S, Livingston NR, Frangou E, Love S, Williams G and 34 more

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Lawrence R, Mcfarlane B, Archer H, Coulthard E, Underwood BR, Koranteng P, Karim S, Bannister C, Perneczky R, Prasanna A, Junaid K, McGuinness B, Nilforooshan R, Macharouthu A, Donaldson A, Thacker S, Russell G, Malik N, Mate V, Knight L, Kshemendran S, Holscher C, Mansouri A, Chester-Jones M, Holmes J, Tan T, Williams S, Ashraf A, Brooks DJ, Harrison J, Hinz R, Tadros G, Passmore AP, Ballard C

Nature medicine1 Dec 2025Cited by 55 (Europe PMC)

PMID41326666PMCIDPMC12823385DOI10.1038/s41591-025-04106-7PepBankPUB-41326666

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Summary

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist and antidiabetic drug, has shown neuroprotective effects in animal models. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of liraglutide in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome. 'Evaluating liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease' (ELAD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 204 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome with no diabetes. Participants received daily injections of liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks. They underwent fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and detailed neuropsychometric evaluations. The primary outcome was a change in cerebral glucose metabolic rate. Secondary outcomes were safety and tolerability and cognitive changes. The primary outcome showed no significant differences in cerebral glucose metabolism (difference = -0.17; 95% confidence interval: -0.39 to 0.06; P = 0.14) between the two groups. The secondary outcome-score on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Executive domain (ADAS-Exec)-performed better in liraglutide-treated patients compared to placebo (0.15; 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.28; unadjusted P = 0.01). No significant differences were observed in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) (-0.58; 95% confidence interval: -3.13 to 1.97; unadjusted P = 0.65) or Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SoB) (-0.06; 95% confidence interval: -0.57 to 0.44; unadjusted P = 0.81) scores. Liraglutide was generally safe and well tolerated in non-diabetic patients with Alzheimer's disease. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01843075 .

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease without diabetes, liraglutide did not significantly change cerebral glucose metabolism versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, brain glucose metabolism did not differ significantly between liraglutide and placebo after 52 weeks.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeCerebral glucose metabolism
Study
n = 204
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · daily injection · 52 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Difference
−0.17
cerebral glucose metabolism
Source sentences
Summary
The primary outcome showed no significant differences in cerebral glucose metabolism (difference = -0.17; 95% confidence interval: -0.39 to 0.06; P = 0.14) between the two groups.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
'Evaluating liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease' (ELAD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 204 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome with no diabetes.
Summary · context
Participants received daily injections of liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4132666601
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, liraglutide improved ADAS-Executive score versus placebo (difference 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.28; unadjusted P=0.01).
In plain wordsIn mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, liraglutide improved the executive-function score versus placebo, with unadjusted P=0.01.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAlzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Executive score
Study
n = 204
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · daily injection · 52 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Difference
0.15
ADAS-Exec
Source sentences
Summary
The secondary outcome-score on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Executive domain (ADAS-Exec)-performed better in liraglutide-treated patients compared to placebo (0.15; 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.28; unadjusted P = 0.01).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
'Evaluating liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease' (ELAD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 204 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome with no diabetes.
Summary · context
Participants received daily injections of liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4132666602
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, ADCS-Activities of Daily Living scores did not differ significantly between liraglutide and placebo (unadjusted P=0.65).
In plain wordsIn mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, daily-activity scores did not differ significantly between liraglutide and placebo.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeAlzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living score
Study
n = 204
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · daily injection · 52 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Difference
−0.58
ADCS-ADL
Source sentences
Summary
No significant differences were observed in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) (-0.58; 95% confidence interval: -3.13 to 1.97; unadjusted P = 0.65) or Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SoB) (-0.06; 95% confidence interval: -0.57 to 0.44; unadjusted P = 0.81) scores.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
'Evaluating liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease' (ELAD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 204 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome with no diabetes.
Summary · context
Participants received daily injections of liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4132666603
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes scores did not differ significantly between liraglutide and placebo (unadjusted P=0.81).
In plain wordsIn mild or moderate Alzheimer disease without diabetes, dementia-rating scores did not differ significantly between liraglutide and placebo.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeClinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes score
Study
n = 204
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · daily injection · 52 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Difference
−0.06
CDR-SoB
Source sentences
Summary
No significant differences were observed in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) (-0.58; 95% confidence interval: -3.13 to 1.97; unadjusted P = 0.65) or Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SoB) (-0.06; 95% confidence interval: -0.57 to 0.44; unadjusted P = 0.81) scores.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
'Evaluating liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease' (ELAD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 204 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome with no diabetes.
Summary · context
Participants received daily injections of liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4132666604
05HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In patients with Alzheimer disease without diabetes, liraglutide was generally safe and well tolerated in the 52-week trial.
In plain wordsIn Alzheimer disease without diabetes, liraglutide was generally safe and well tolerated in this 52-week trial.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
Not applicableSafety and tolerability
Study
n = 204
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated · daily injection · 52 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Liraglutide was generally safe and well tolerated in non-diabetic patients with Alzheimer's disease.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
'Evaluating liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease' (ELAD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial in 204 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease syndrome with no diabetes.
Summary · context
Participants received daily injections of liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4132666605

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

Status unknownPhase 2NCT01843075

Evaluating Liraglutide in Alzheimer's Disease

Imperial College Londonn = 204Jan 2014 to est. Dec 2019

Alzheimer's Disease

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 10 Jun 2019

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
12 Oct 2026, 11:11 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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