Semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, may slow aging and extend lifespan. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the drug reduced several harmful effects of aging in older, healthy mice. It also extended their lifespan.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, compared semaglutide to calorie restriction. Calorie restriction is known to extend lifespan in laboratory animals. Semaglutide replicated many anti-aging effects of reduced eating. In some areas, its effects were more pronounced.
These findings suggest that GLP-1 drugs could influence the aging process itself. Previous animal studies showed these drugs can delay age-related diseases. If semaglutide affects biological mechanisms of aging, it could explain the broad health benefits of GLP-1 treatments.
Scientists gave semaglutide to 20-month-old female mice for three months. Treated mice showed better muscle and cognitive function. Gene activity indicated improvements in biological aging features, including reduced inflammation and better tissue repair. The median lifespan of mice treated with semaglutide was nearly 100 days longer than untreated mice.
The researchers also compared semaglutide directly with calorie restriction. Both methods produced similar effects. However, semaglutide showed additional benefits. Mice receiving the drug improved in exploratory behavior, spatial memory, and blood sugar maintenance beyond their initial levels. Their metabolic rate remained stable, unlike the slowed metabolism in calorie-restricted animals. These differences suggest semaglutide may act through a pathway separate from calorie restriction.
Further clinical research is needed to determine if these effects translate to humans. The study does not confirm that GLP-1 drugs can extend human lifespan. Future studies may investigate these drugs in healthy older adults. The NIH supported this research through grants R01AG063404, R01AG063389, and R01AG082105.
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