Scientists find Ozempic may slow aging itself
A study on mice suggests that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, may slow the biological aging process and extend lifespan. The drug showed improvements in muscle function, cognitive health, and tissue repair in older subjects.
Why it matters
If these findings translate to humans, it could redefine the treatment of age-related chronic diseases beyond current metabolic applications.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may do more than suppress appetite and improve blood sugar. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study found that the drug reduced several harmful effects of aging and extended lifespan in older, healthy mice.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley compared semaglutide directly with calorie restriction, one of the best-known interventions for extending lifespan in laboratory animals. The drug reproduced many of the anti-aging effects of eating less, but in several important areas, it appeared to go even further.
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