Evidence mapPaperPMID 41766347Full record

SynthesisObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity2026

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Semaglutide Effects on Adipose Tissue and Emerging Effects on Brain and Cognition.

Amene Saghazadeh, Mahsa Dolatshahi, Soheil Mohammadi, Sara Hosseinzadeh Kassani, Mahshid Naghashzadeh, Joseph E Ippolito, Claude B Sirlin, Bettina Mittendorfer, Matthew R Brier, Suzanne E Schindler and 5 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Amene SaghazadehSchool of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID 0000-0002-0945-8443
Mahsa DolatshahiMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Soheil MohammadiMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Sara Hosseinzadeh KassaniMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Mahshid NaghashzadehMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Joseph E IppolitoMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Claude B SirlinLiver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
Bettina MittendorferDepartment of Medicine and Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Matthew R BrierDepartment of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Suzanne E SchindlerDepartment of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
John C MorrisDepartment of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Danny MouDepartment of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Hani Charles SoudahDepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Tammie L S BenzingerMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Cyrus A RajiMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Funding

Neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's Disease Imaging Biomarkers in Midlife ObesityR01AG072637 · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2025 to 2025
$615k
PET and MRI Evaluation of Cerebral Inflammation and Metabolic Stress in Relapsing Multiple SclerosisK23NS128325 · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2025 to 2025
$232k
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG072637NINDS NIH HHS K23 NS128325
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn 2023 and 2024, research into semaglutide (SEMA), an antiobesity and antidiabetic medication, indicated potential benefits beyond its approved uses, particularly in preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD). This highlights the link between obesity and AD development.

objectivesThis systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates clinical studies assessing SEMA's effects on subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT/VAT) measures, brain function, cognitive performance through cognitive tasks, and the incidence of cognitive disorders.

methodsWe searched databases for studies evaluating these outcomes pre- and post-SEMA treatment, with the last update on November 9, 2024. We included studies regardless of treatment duration, estimating pre-post standardized mean differences (SMD) for one-group and two-group designs using a random-effects model.

resultsWe included 23 studies: 18 on SAT/VAT outcomes and five on brain function and cognitive impairment. Meta-analyses revealed significant VAT reductions but no significant impact on SAT. SEMA demonstrated neuroprotective effects, lowering the risk of AD compared to various treatments.

conclusionOur systematic appraisal highlighted high heterogeneity across available original investigations. Within this context, meta-analytic findings suggest that SEMA may be able to promote VAT loss and support cognitive preservation. Sequencing these effects, VAT loss and cognitive preservation, is an important question open for further exploration.

Indexed as

Adipose TissueAnti-Obesity AgentsBrainCognitionGlucagon-Like PeptidesObesityAlzheimer DiseaseHumansSemaglutideAnti-Obesity AgentsGlucagon-Like PeptidesSemaglutideadiposityBMIdementiadiabetesincretin mimetictreatment durationVAT areavisceral obesity

Identifiers

PMID41766347
PMCPMC13131993

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.