New Research Suggests Weight-Loss Drugs May Slow Aging and Extend Lifespan

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Recent research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Conference suggests that weight-loss drugs, particularly semaglutide (known as Ozempic and Wegovy), may have significant benefits beyond their initial purpose. Semaglutide, originally used to reduce cardiovascular risks in obese or overweight individuals, has now been found to lower mortality rates from all causes, not just cardiovascular issues.

The Select trial, involving 17,604 participants aged 45 or older with obesity and cardiovascular disease but no diabetes, showed that those taking semaglutide had a lower overall death rate compared to those on a placebo. This includes a notable reduction in deaths from infections, which were previously a leading cause of death among participants not taking the drug.

Prof. Harlan Krumholz and other researchers suggest that these findings indicate semaglutide may have far-reaching health benefits that contribute to slowing down the ageing process. Benjamin Scirica from Harvard also emphasized that the drug's effects on reducing non-cardiovascular deaths highlight the broader health impacts of addressing obesity with such therapies.

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Work Cited:

"Weight-loss Drugs ‘Slow Down the Ageing Process’, Scientists Suggest." The Guardian, 31 Aug. 2024, www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/31/weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-slow-down-ageing-process-study. Accessed 3 Sep. 2024.

Photo by Julian Jagtenberg: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-long-sleeve-shirt-standing-near-white-and-gray-house-during-daytime-103127/

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