A preliminary study published in Neurology this month found that people with type 2 diabetes who take GLP-1 drugs—the class that includes Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza—may be 16% less likely to develop epilepsy than those on other diabetes medications.
The finding is striking because people with diabetes already face a higher baseline risk of epilepsy. If confirmed, it could mean that a drug class already prescribed to millions for blood sugar control and weight loss might offer an unexpected neurological benefit.
What the data showed
Researchers analyzed health records for 452,766 adults with type 2 diabetes over at least five years. About half took GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide, dulaglutide, or liraglutide), while the other half took DPP-4 inhibitors, a different diabetes medication class. In the GLP-1 group, 2.35% developed epilepsy compared to 2.41% in the comparison group—a small absolute difference, but one that remained after accounting for age, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and other risk factors.
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Start Your News DetoxSemaglutide showed the strongest association with reduced epilepsy risk, though the researchers emphasize this doesn't mean the drug prevents epilepsy.
"These results are promising, since people with diabetes are at increased risk for developing epilepsy later in life," said study author Edy Kornelius, MD, PhD. "Epilepsy can have many physical, psychological and social consequences, and many people do not respond to current medications, so finding ways to reduce this risk is critical."
The important caveats
This is observational research, not a randomized controlled trial. The study can show an association—people on GLP-1 drugs had lower epilepsy rates—but not prove causation. Researchers lacked data on family history, genetics, and alcohol use, all of which influence epilepsy risk. Insurance coverage and medication cost may have also shaped which patients received which drug, creating hidden differences between groups that the analysis couldn't fully account for.
The findings also don't apply to tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a newer dual-action diabetes drug that wasn't available during the study period.
Kornelius was careful to note that the results don't mean DPP-4 inhibitors are harmful—only that GLP-1 drugs showed a modest protective association. The real next step is randomized trials that follow people over time to confirm whether this connection is real and, if so, how GLP-1 drugs might protect the brain.
For the millions already taking these drugs for diabetes or weight management, the finding adds another layer to an increasingly complex picture of what GLP-1 drugs do beyond controlling blood sugar. The neurological angle is new territory—and it's worth watching as the evidence builds.
