Incretin Mimetics: Promising Therapeutic Agents for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Incretin Mimetics, Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and Incretin Mimetics, Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD (TBI). Despite significant advances in understanding these conditions, there remains a lack of FDA-approved drugs to effectively mitigate their progression. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified inflammation-related pathways as pivotal drivers of risk in AD, highlighting the potential for repurposing FDA-approved drugs to target neuroinflammation. Incretin mimetics, originally developed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have emerged as promising candidates due to their potent anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and neurotrophic effects. Preclinical studies have demonstrated their efficacy in various animal models of stroke, PD, AD, glaucoma, and TBI, while early-stage clinical trials in PD have yielded positive results. This review provides an overview of incretin-based therapies, focusing on their dual role in blood glucose regulation and neuroprotection. It also discusses recent advancements in incretin mimetic drugs, including GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and GIP receptor (GIPR) agonists, as well as multi-receptor agonists like tirzepatide, and their potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Given their established safety profiles, incretin mimetics hold considerable promise for repurposing in the treatment of neurological disorders, offering new hope for patients with chronic and acute brain injuries.

Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite significant advances in understanding these conditions, there remains a lack of FDA-approved drugs to effectively mitigate their progression. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified inflammation-related pathways as pivotal drivers of risk in AD, highlighting the potential for repurposing FDA-approved drugs to target neuroinflammation. Incretin mimetics, originally developed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have emerged as promising candidates due to their potent anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and neurotrophic effects. Preclinical studies have demonstrated their efficacy in various animal models of stroke, PD, AD, glaucoma, and TBI, while early-stage clinical trials in PD have yielded positive results. This review provides an overview of incretin-based therapies, focusing on their dual role in blood glucose regulation and neuroprotection. It also discusses recent advancements in incretin mimetic drugs, including GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and GIP receptor (GIPR) agonists, as well as multi-receptor agonists like tirzepatide, and their potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Given their established safety profiles, incretin mimetics hold considerable promise for repurposing in the treatment of neurological disorders, offering new hope for patients with chronic and acute brain injuries.