What the Research Says About Using Diabetes Drugs for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that gets worse over time without treatment. People experience symptoms such as shaking, stiffness, or slowed movement. Over time, it can also affect your thinking and mood.

While there are treatments to help improve symptoms, there’s no known cure. And experts aren’t clear on what causes the condition. But there seems to be a connection between Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes.

People living with Type 2 diabetes may be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. And people with Type 2 diabetes tend to have worse Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Because of this, experts have been exploring whether certain diabetes medications could help manage Parkinson’s disease.

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Will we see diabetes drugs being used for Parkinson’s disease in the future? Let’s discuss what the research says.

Good to know: Much of the research discussed in this article is focused on people who have both Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Information is limited regarding how the research pertains to people who have Parkinson’s disease but not diabetes.

Can diabetes medications work for Parkinson’s disease?

The evidence is mixed about whether diabetes medications may work for Parkinson’s disease. As we’ll discuss below, some studies have found that certain medications might slow progression or treat symptoms. Other studies haven’t.

The medication bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel) was originally FDA approved for Parkinson’s disease. Years later, it was also approved for Type 2 diabetes. So it’s not out of the question that other diabetes medications may help with Parkinson’s disease. But keep in mind that bromocriptine isn’t a commonly used medication for either condition.

One reason diabetes medications are being studied is because they help combat insulin resistance. This is when your body doesn’t respond to its natural insulin as expected. People with Type 2 diabetes often have insulin resistance. And current research suggests insulin resistance may play a role in the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Which diabetes medications have been studied for Parkinson's disease?

Several types of diabetes medications have been studied for Parkinson’s disease. Many of the studies were conducted in animals. But some were conducted with human participants.

Examples of diabetes medications that have been studied for treating Parkinson’s disease are listed in the table below. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists seem to be the medication class with the most promising results so far.

*Not currently available in the U.S.

How might diabetes medications help Parkinson’s disease symptoms?

Experts are still exploring if and how diabetes medications might help Parkinson’s disease symptoms. One of the biggest questions is whether these medications can help people who have Parksinon’s disease but don’t have Type 2 diabetes.

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For those who do have diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, there is promising evidence that managing your blood glucose (sugar) can be helpful in managing Parkinson’s symptoms. When diabetes is well-managed, meaning your hemoglobin A1C stays under 7%, there’s a lower risk of long-term complications. This includes less damage to the nerves in your brain. So it makes sense that diabetes medications may help with Parkinson’s disease if you also have Type 2 diabetes.

But there isn’t good evidence that taking diabetes medications can help with Parkinson’s disease if you don’t have diabetes.

How might diabetes medications help Parkinson’s disease symptoms for people with Type 2 diabetes?

There are a few theories about why diabetes medications might help Parkinson’s disease for people with diabetes. As mentioned above, combating insulin resistance is one way they may work. They may also help reduce inflammation and improve energy production in brain cells.

Here’s some more details on how some diabetes medications may help people who have both Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes:

• They may reduce brain inflammation. Inflammation in the brain may play a partial role in how Parkinson’s disease develops and progresses. Some diabetes medications may reduce this inflammation. And this might protect the brain cells that are affected by the condition.

• They may improve energy production from mitochondria in brain cells. Mitochondria are the parts of cells that make energy. In people with Parkinson’s, mitochondria don’t work as well, which can cause brain cells to die. Some diabetes medications can improve how mitochondria work. And this may help keep brain cells alive longer.

• They help the brain use insulin. As discussed earlier, insulin resistance in the brain may be linked to Parkinson's disease in people with diabetes. Diabetes medications can improve how the brain uses insulin, which might help slow down inflammation in the body.

Keep in mind that experts are still researching this topic. Scientists don’t have a definite answer about how diabetes medications may affect Parkinson’s disease. This information will likely change as we learn more.

When will diabetes medications be approved to treat Parkinson’s disease?

Right now, only bromocriptine is approved for both Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes. But it’s not a first-choice medication for either condition. Early studies of other medications show promise, particularly with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

It’s possible that we could see other diabetes medications be approved for Parkinson’s disease in the future. But more studies confirming their benefits are needed first. It would likely be several years before we hear about possible FDA approvals.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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