Study of Liraglutide (A Weight Loss Drug) in High Risk Obese Participants With Cognitive and Memory Issues

NCT06171152 · Suspended

Last updated 2026-05-28

This clinical trial is testing whether the weight loss drug liraglutide affects brain health markers in adults with obesity who also have conditions like multiple sclerosis or long COVID and may experience memory or thinking issues.

Status Suspended Paused for now; may resume later.

Phase Early Phase 1 First exploratory testing in people.

Type Interventional (clinical trial)

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

Participants 30 people Planned (estimated).

Who can join Ages 18–40 · all sexes

Timeline Started 2024-01 · est. completion 2027-10

Where 1 site · United States

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06171152 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

This study is for people who have multiple sclerosis, acute leukemia (in remission), or long-COVID and a Body Mass Index over 27 and may struggle with cognitive issues such as remembering information, concentrating, or making decisions that affect everyday life. By doing this study, researchers hope to learn how liraglutide (Saxenda®), a weight loss drug, affects levels of a certain disease marker in the body called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Participation in this research will last about 21 weeks.

Treatments tested

Liraglutide Pen Injector [Saxenda] also known as Saxenda, Victoza Drug

A weight loss drug that can be taken at home. Liraglutide will be provided as an injectable pen that participants can inject in the stomach, thigh or upper arm. A member of the research team will give you instructions on how to inject liraglutide using the injectable pen and answer any questions.
Medication Diary Other

Participants will be asked to maintain a medication diary of each dose of liraglutide. A member of the research team will provide a copy of this diary for participants to complete. Participants will be asked to return this medication diary to research staff at each clinic visit.

Main thing measured	Change from Baseline in Serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) after 8 Weeks
Sponsor	University of Chicago
Conditions studied	Multiple Sclerosis, Long COVID, Long Covid19, Obese, Obesity, Obesity, Morbid, Acute Leukemia in Remission
GLP-1 drugs	liraglutide

Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06171152 ↗