Scientists solve the mystery of a brain “switch” that can trigger weight loss in opposite ways
Cambridge researchers found that weight loss drugs can trigger weight loss by targeting the same receptor in different brain regions. Activating the receptor in the brainstem or blocking it in the hypothalamus both yield positive results.
Why it matters
This insight helps explain the efficacy of current obesity medications and could lead to more effective, targeted combination therapies.
Cambridge researchers have uncovered why both activating and blocking the same brain receptor can promote weight loss. The findings may help scientists develop obesity treatments that are more effective and potentially work better in combination.
The mouse study, published in Nature Metabolism , found that the outcome depends on which part of the brain is targeted. Activating the receptor in the brainstem reduced appetite, while blocking the same receptor in the hypothalamus produced a similar weight loss effect through a different mechanism.
More than a billion people around the world are living with obesity, a condition that raises the risk of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Losing weight can reduce some of these risks, but achieving substantial weight loss through diet and exercise alone can be difficult.
How Modern Weight Loss Drugs Target the Brain
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