Study in Mice Suggests Weight-Loss Drug Semaglutide May Extend Lifespan

A new study has found that administering semaglutide—the active ingredient in the weight-loss and diabetes medications Wegovy and Ozempic—to older mice extended their lifespan, according to a report by Scientific American.

The GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, widely used in humans for weight management and blood sugar control, appeared to have a notable effect on aging in the animal study, the publication reported.

Scientific American did not detail the specific mechanisms proposed by researchers or the magnitude of the lifespan extension observed, and it is not yet clear whether the findings would translate to similar effects in humans.

GLP-1 medications have surged in popularity in recent years primarily for weight loss and diabetes treatment, and researchers have increasingly examined their potential effects on other aspects of health, including aging processes.

Further details on the study's methodology, the researchers involved, and where the findings were published were not included in the available excerpt from Scientific American.