A study of nearly 900,000 type 2 diabetes patients finds long-term use of GLP-1 drugs is linked to an 81% higher risk of smell impairment and a 52% higher risk of taste impairment. While the actual rates are low (0.37% in the GLP-1 group), an editorial notes smell dysfunction can be a warning sign for neurodegenerative conditions and questions the risk-benefit for cosmetic use.
GLP-1 sensory impairment risk
- ▪Compared to patients on other diabetes drugs, GLP-1 users had an 81% higher risk of developing smell disturbances and a 52% higher risk of taste disturbances over two years
- ▪Long-term use of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes was associated with an increased risk of disturbances in smell and taste, based on an analysis of health records.
- ▪An editorial suggested the risk of sensory disturbance may be acceptable for patients with uncontrolled diabetes or severe obesity, but not for cosmetic weight loss
- ▪Despite the increased relative risk, the absolute rates of smell and taste disturbances were 0.37% in the GLP-1 group and 0.22% in the control group
Diabetes medication study data
- ▪Study coauthors Jonathan Zontag and Nir Zontag of Hebrew University said the findings highlight a need for closer monitoring and greater public health awareness
- ▪A study analyzed electronic health records collected between 2017 and 2026 from nearly 900,000 patients with type 2 diabetes
- ▪The study compared approximately 450,000 patients using GLP-1 drugs with an equal number of patients using other drugs to treat their diabetes
Neurodegenerative disease markers
- ▪According to an editorial, smell dysfunction is one of the most reliable warning signs of neurodegenerative conditions
- ▪An editorial published with the study described smell and taste as “subtle but critical markers of systemic well-being.”
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