Edd Gent in Singularity Hub:
Ozempic has been called a wonder drug for the wide range of ailments it seems able to treat. Now, researchers have found solid evidence it could even slow aging. Originally designed to treat Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic is the brand name for a molecule called semaglutide. It’s part of a family of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists that also includes Wegovy and Mounjaro. These drugs work by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1.
GLP-1 has a variety of roles including the regulation of blood sugar by promoting insulin production and inhibiting the release of a hormone called glucagon that increases blood sugar levels. It also helps slows down stomach emptying, which can make you feel full for longer, and activates neurons in the brain that make you feel satiated. The latter effects are why these drugs are emerging as powerful weight-loss tools. However, there’s growing evidence Ozempic’s potential goes further, with studies showing it could help treat cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and even substance abuse. Most tantalizing, however, is the possibility it could act as a broad anti-aging medication. Now, a clinical trial has found the strongest evidence yet that this could be viable. Researchers administered Ozempic to people with a condition that causes accelerated aging. After a 32-week course, those who received the drug were biologically younger by as much as 3.1 years, on average, according to a preprint paper.
“Semaglutide may not only slow the rate of aging, but in some individuals partially reverse it,” Varun Dwaraka, director of research at diagnostics company TruDiagnostic who worked on the trial, told New Scientist.
More here.
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