Can Weight-Loss Drugs Slow Ageing? Study Finds Semaglutide May Reduce Biological Ageing Markers
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A new study published in Nature Communications suggests semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, may slow some biological aging processes.
Researchers described the findings as the first randomised, placebo-controlled evidence in humans suggesting that a GLP-1 medication could influence biological ageing pathways, as per Science Daily.
As GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy gain popularity for weight loss, new research suggests they may offer another potential benefit: slowing some of the biological processes associated with ageing.
A study published in Nature Communications found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in these drugs, may help reduce the buildup of DNA markers linked to biological ageing in adults living with HIV.
Researchers described the findings as the first randomised, placebo-controlled evidence in humans suggesting that a GLP-1 medication could influence biological ageing pathways, as per Science Daily.
What Did The Study Find?
The research focused on adults living with HIV, a group known to experience accelerated biological ageing due to chronic inflammation and immune system activation.
Participants who received semaglutide showed a slower accumulation of DNA markers associated with biological ageing compared with those who received a placebo, according to the study.
While the findings do not prove that semaglutide can stop or reverse ageing, they suggest the drug may influence some of the underlying biological mechanisms that contribute to age-related decline.
Why Might GLP-1 Drugs Affect Ageing?
Researchers believe semaglutide may affect ageing through several interconnected pathways.
According to the study, GLP-1 medications help reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health, both of which are closely linked to the aging process. The drugs also reduce chronic immune activation, a major factor behind accelerated aging in people living with HIV, as per Science Daily.
In addition, semaglutide helps reduce visceral fat—the harmful fat stored around internal organs—as well as ectopic fat that accumulates in tissues where fat does not normally belong.
Lower levels of these fat deposits may reduce inflammatory signals throughout the body, potentially slowing biological processes associated with ageing.
Scientists Urge Caution
Despite the promising findings, researchers stressed that semaglutide should not be viewed as an anti-aging treatment. “We are not saying that semaglutide reverses aging or makes people younger. What we are seeing is a signal that it may slow some of the biological processes associated with aging,” said lead author Michael Corley, PhD, associate professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging.
Corley added that newer GLP-1-based therapies provide an opportunity for scientists to explore whether different drugs in this class affect aging biology in different ways and to determine which patients may benefit the most.
Researchers emphasized that much larger clinical trials will be needed before any conclusions can be drawn about semaglutide’s role in healthy ageing.
While GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide are known for weight management and may reduce risks of certain diseases, current reports do not indicate they are being developed or used as anti-aging treatments.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, national current affairs, and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking power shifts, election strateg…Read More
