An astonishing new trial suggests that Ozempic may help users not only drop pounds but also turn back time.
In the first trial to directly measure the impact of semaglutide on aging, half of the participants were given a weekly injection of Ozempic while the other half received a placebo for 32 weeks.
“Those on semaglutide drug became, on average, 3.1 years biologically younger by the end of the study,” diagnostic researcher Varun Dwaraka reported.
The placebo group showed no significant change in biological age over the same period.
While everyone knows their chronological age, medical experts often speak in terms of biological or “phenotypic” age, which measures factors like metabolism, inflammation, and organ function.
Researchers note that the anti-aging effects of GLP-1 varied across the body’s systems. The most dramatic improvements were to the brain and inflammatory system, where the drug, originally developed to treat diabetes, appeared to delay biological aging by nearly 5 years.
The teams also noted significant improvement in the heart and kidneys.
“The drug may not only slow the rate of aging, but in some individuals partially reverse it,” Dwaraka said.
Researchers believe these powerful anti-aging qualities are related to Ozempic’s effect on fat distribution and metabolic health. In essence, excess fat around the body’s organs promotes the release of pro-aging molecules.
Obesity causes low-grade chronic inflammation, which is when the body’s natural chemical response to an irritant or injury remains active long after the threat has passed.
GLP-1 drugs indirectly reduce inflammation through weight loss. The meds can also activate specific T cells — white blood cells key to the immune system — which can have anti-inflammatory effects.
By reducing excess fat and inflammation, two hallmarks of epigenetic aging, the drug effectively slows the cruel march of deterioration.
The use of GLP-1 medications has proliferated in recent years. A recent KFF health poll revealed that 12% of US adults have taken an Ozempic-like drug at some point.
Despite the promising results, Dwaraka said caution and patience are called for.
“Prescribing it more broadly as an anti-ageing therapy is premature,” he said.
However, he and his team are hopeful their research will inspire further studies and support the repurposing of existing drugs to treat age-related problems, as these established medications are more likely to be fast-tracked for approval and come without the risk of unforeseen side effects.
“Semaglutide may well emerge as one of the most promising candidates in this space,” Dwaraka concluded.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to a host of benefits beyond diabetes management and weight loss, from reduced dementia risk and decreased cancer risk to addiction treatment.
