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 with 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.
The findings suggest that GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs may 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 its broad health benefits.
Danica Chen, a professor at UC Berkeley, led the research team. They gave semaglutide to 20-month-old female mice for three months. Treated mice showed improved muscle and cognitive function. Gene activity indicated reduced inflammation and better tissue repair. The median lifespan of semaglutide-treated mice was nearly one hundred days longer than untreated mice.
The study also compared semaglutide to a 24% calorie-restricted diet. Both approaches produced similar effects. However, semaglutide-treated mice showed improvements in exploratory behavior, spatial memory, and blood-sugar maintenance beyond their starting levels. Their metabolic rate remained stable, unlike the calorie-restricted group.
These differences suggest semaglutide may act through a biological pathway separate from calorie restriction. Further clinical research is needed to determine if these effects translate to humans. The findings could open new directions in longevity research.
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