Dapagliflozin restores odour‐induced functional integration of primary olfactory cortex circuit but not olfactory‐related regional brain activation in patients with type 2 diabetes: A 16‐week randomised comparative study
Authors' conclusion
These results suggest that dapagliflozin and liraglutide exhibit distinct neuroprotective effects. While liraglutide enhances activation in local olfactory-related regions, dapagliflozin facilitates functional integration within neural circuits. This highlights the importance of targeting both metabolic and neural pathways to manage diabetes-related cognitive decline.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D inadequately controlled with metformin; plus healthy controlspatients with T2D
- Participants
- 36 patients
- Comparison
- Dapagliflozin vs liraglutide vs acarbose
- Healthy controlsn = 36reference
- Primary endpoint
- Directed FC of the primary olfactory cortex circuit and regional activation under odour stimulation (olfactory task functional MRI)
- Follow-up
- 16 weeks
Methodological detailsprospective, parallel-group, open-label, 16-week, 1:1:1 randomisation, healthy control comparison group
- Prospective
- Parallel-group
- Open-label
- 16-week
- 1:1:1 randomisation
- Healthy control comparison group
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
- Dapagliflozin restored odour-induced functional integration of the primary olfactory cortex (POC)-sensorimotor cortex-middle temporal cortex circuit; liraglutide and acarbose did not
- Liraglutide enhanced odour-induced activation in the left hippocampus; not observed with dapagliflozin and acarbose
- Gaussian random field correction applied
Further findings
Attention with dapagliflozin · 16 weeks
- Dapagliflozin tended to improve attention
- P = 0.071
Associations of decreased odour-induced directed functional connectivity (FC)
- Decreased odour-induced directed FC associated with changes in lipid levels, olfactory threshold, executive function and memory performance
- all p < 0.05
Original publication
Dapagliflozin restores odour‐induced functional integration of primary olfactory cortex circuit but not olfactory‐related regional brain activation in patients with type 2 diabetes: A 16‐week randomised comparative study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 15 September 2025. doi:10.
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