Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study found that the GLP-1 drug semaglutide extended lifespan in 20-month-old female mice, improving muscle and cognitive function while reducing signs of natural aging such as inflammation and declining regenerative capacity.
Researchers administered semaglutide for three months and observed that treated mice showed enhanced physical and cognitive outcomes compared to controls. Mice treated until the end of life had a median lifespan nearly 100 days longer than untreated mice.
The study also compared semaglutide treatment to calorie restriction, matching the feeding patterns of the treated mice to a 24% reduced diet. While many physiological metrics were similar, semaglutide-treated mice outperformed calorie-restricted mice in exploratory behavior, spatial memory, and blood-sugar regulation.
Unlike calorie-restricted mice, which showed reduced metabolic rates, semaglutide treatment maintained metabolic rate levels, suggesting the drug may act through pathways independent of reduced food intake.
According to an NIH investigator, GLP-1 agonists may slow aging processes underlying multiple chronic diseases, possibly explaining the broad clinical benefits seen with these drugs.