LIGHT-MCI Trial: GLP-1 Agonist, SGLT2 Inhibitor, and DPP-4 Inhibitor for MCI Remission in Type 2 Diabetes

NCT05313529 · Active, not recruiting

Last updated 2026-05-28

This clinical trial is testing whether a combination of three diabetes medications (a GLP-1 agonist, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and a DPP-4 inhibitor) can improve memory and thinking in adults with type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment.

Status Active, not recruiting Ongoing, but no longer enrolling new participants.

Phase Not applicable Not a phased drug trial (e.g. a device or behavioral study).

Type Interventional (clinical trial)

Design Randomized, open-label (no blinding) treatment study

Participants 396 people Planned (estimated).

Who can join Ages 40–75 · all sexes

Timeline Started 2022-10 · est. completion 2026-07

Where 5 sites · China

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05313529 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

This is an investigator-led prospective, randomized, open label, parallel study to explore and evaluate the therapeutic effects of Liraglutide, Empagliflozin and Linagliptin on the cognitive function in T2DM patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), consisting of a 48-week core study followed by a 28-week extension phase.

Treatments tested

Liraglutide also known as metformin Drug

Liraglutide will be titrated from 0.6mg/day to 1.8mg/day during the first 2 weeks, if well tolerated. All patients will also continue on their existing dose and regimen of metformin throughout the study
Empagliflozin also known as metformin Drug

Empagliflozin will be initiated and maintained at 10mg/ day every morning until the completion of the study. All patients will also continue on their existing dose and regimen of metformin throughout the study.
Linagliptin also known as metformin Drug

Iinagliptin will be initiated at 5mg/ day every morning until the completion of the study. All patients will also continue on their existing dose and regimen of metformin throughout the study.

Main thing measured	Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remission rate
Sponsor	The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
Conditions studied	Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Mild Cognitive Impairment
GLP-1 drugs	—

Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05313529 ↗