This Medication Is Everywhere—And It May Slow Biological Aging - AOL.com

What the report says

Prevention.com reports that new research in Nature Communications suggests the GLP-1 drug semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, may be associated with a slower pace of biological aging in a specific group of adults. The medications are already used for blood sugar control and weight management, and have been studied for other possible health effects, including cardiovascular and sleep-related outcomes.

According to the report, the randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved 108 adults with HIV and lipohypertrophy, a condition involving excess abdominal fat. Participants received either weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo for 32 weeks. Researchers used epigenetic “clocks,” which estimate biological aging through DNA methylation patterns, to assess changes during the trial.

The study found that people taking semaglutide showed an overall pattern consistent with slower biological aging, including in measures related to blood, brain, heart, kidney, liver and metabolism. Prevention.com reported that the medication was linked to a 9% slowing in the pace of biological aging, while noting that researchers said more study is needed before GLP-1 drugs could be considered gerotherapeutics, or medicines intended to target aging itself.

Doctors cited by Prevention.com said the possible effect may relate to reduced inflammation, lower visceral fat, steadier blood sugar or epigenetic changes, but they cautioned that it is not yet clear whether the drug has anti-aging effects independent of weight loss. The evidence so far comes largely from people with chronic health conditions, including HIV, obesity or diabetes, so its relevance to the general population remains uncertain.