Evaluating the effects of the novel GLP-1 analogue liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ELAD study)

Femminella, G. D.; Frangou, E.; Love, S. B.; Busza, G.; Holmes, C.; Ritchie, C.; Lawrence, R.; Mcfarlane, B.; Tadros, G.; Ridha, B. H.; Bannister, C.; Walker, Z.; Archer, H.; Coulthard, E.; Underwood, B. R.; Prasanna, A.; Koranteng, P.; Karim, S.; Junaid, K.; Mcguinness, B.; Nilforooshan, R.; Macharouthu, A.; Donaldson, A.; Thacker, S.; Russell, G.; Malik, N.; Mate, V.; Knight, L.; Kshemendran, S.; Harrison, J.; Brooks, D. J.; Passmore, A. P.; Ballard, C.; Edison, P.

doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3259-x

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue currently approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Preclinical evidence in transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease suggests that liraglutide exerts neuroprotective effects by reducing amyloid oligomers, normalising synaptic plasticity and cerebral glucose uptake, and increasing the proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the change in cerebral glucose metabolic rate after 12 months of treatment with liraglutide in participants with Alzheimer's disease compared to those who are receiving placebo.

Evaluating the effects of the novel GLP-1 analogue liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ELAD study) / Femminella, G. D.; Frangou, E.; Love, S. B.; Busza, G.; Holmes, C.; Ritchie, C.; Lawrence, R.; Mcfarlane, B.; Tadros, G.; Ridha, B. H.; Bannister, C.; Walker, Z.; Archer, H.; Coulthard, E.; Underwood, B. R.; Prasanna, A.; Koranteng, P.; Karim, S.; Junaid, K.; Mcguinness, B.; Nilforooshan, R.; Macharouthu, A.; Donaldson, A.; Thacker, S.; Russell, G.; Malik, N.; Mate, V.; Knight, L.; Kshemendran, S.; Harrison, J.; Brooks, D. J.; Passmore, A. P.; Ballard, C.; Edison, P.. - In: TRIALS. - ISSN 1745-6215. - 20:1(2019), p. 191. [10.1186/s13063-019-3259-x]