When we eat a meal containing carbohydrates a peptide called GLP1 is released into the blood and acts in several ways to improve glucose regulation. It stimulates insulin release from the pancreas, increases insulin sensitivity, and suppresses appetite. A peptide called exenatide originally discovered in the venom of the Gila monster activates GLP1 receptors and is now prescribed as a treatment for diabetes and obesity. Preclinical studies at the NIH showed that exenatide prevents neuronal damage and improves functional outcome in experimental models of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Professor Tom Foltynie at University College London then led clinical trials of exenatide in Parkinson’s disease which demonstrated beneficial effects of exenatide. In this episode I talk with Professor Foltynie about GLP1 receptor agonists and how they protect neurons against damage and dysfunction in Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders.

LINKS
Professor Foltynie’s webpage:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/research/ou...

Lancet article: RCT of Exenatide in Parkinson’s disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

Review articles on GLP1 and its effects on diabetes and obesity
https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?p...

Review article on energy metabolism and Parkinson’s disease:
https://content.iospress.com/download...

Preclinical studies of Exenatide for:
Parkinson’s disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Alzheimer’s disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Huntington’s disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...