The use of GLP-1 drugs, originally developed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, is expanding. A new study published in the scientific journal Nature shows that these medications may slow the aging process. In the experiment, older female mice treated with an anti-obesity drug lived significantly longer and healthier lives than those in the control group.
Danika Chen, a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-author of the study, conducted the experiment on healthy 20-month-old female mice, equivalent to about 60 years of age in humans. Following treatment with semaglutide, known by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, the animals had a median lifespan of 834 days, 12% longer than that of the control group (742 days). The drug-treated mice also showed improved coordination, muscle function, and glucose metabolism. Laboratory analyses further revealed a significant slowdown in cellular changes associated with aging and inflammatory processes.
It is known that activation of GLP-1 receptors suppresses appetite. During the experiment, the mice independently reduced their calorie intake by 24%. To determine whether the extended lifespan was solely attributable to dietary restriction, the scientists placed an additional untreated group on exactly the same calorie-restricted diet. Although the two groups showed identical lifespan outcomes, the semaglutide-treated animals performed significantly better in spatial memory tests. According to the researchers, this suggests that the drug provides additional physiological benefits beyond calorie restriction, although these effects are not yet fully understood.
The findings are also consistent with previous research. An earlier experiment led by Ho Ko, a neuroscientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, found that another GLP-1 drug, exenatide, helps prevent muscle loss and age-related changes in older male mice. Nevertheless, scientists remain cautious, as the effects of the medication may differ between the sexes. Experts believe that widespread use of the drug as an anti-aging therapy in healthy populations would be premature, and that future testing should primarily focus on patients in the early stages of age-related diseases.
At the same time, scientists are beginning clinical trials in humans. The University of Texas Medical Branch is launching a new program to investigate the potential anti-aging effects of tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) in overweight patients aged 55 to 70. The study is expected to be completed in 2028 and could provide greater clarity for medicine. Until then, according to Michael Corley, a specialist at the University of California, healthy eating and regular physical activity remain the most effective, evidence-based ways to support a long and healthy life.
