That’s the query many scientists are asking concerning the controversial drug, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, as some research suggests it could help people age with fewer chronic diseases. The same is true of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptor agonists like Zepbound and Mounjaro, leading some experts to view them as potential longevity pills and take into consideration how they might be safely prescribed to more people in the longer term, especially as obesity rates proceed to rise.
“By far the most effective and consistent way to extend lifespan in animals is through calorie restriction,” says Douglas Vaughan, PhD, professor of drugs at Northwestern University and director of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute. “It’s been proven to work in all animals, from worms to flies to mice to monkeys. If you can find a way to get people to permanently reduce their calorie intake, it makes sense that it could have an effect on aging. It’s probably not that simple, and these drugs could have unexpected effects that could negate or prevent the anti-aging effect, but it’s a great hypothesis that needs to be thoroughly tested.”
What are GLP-1 and GIP?
Originally, semaglutide and similar drugs were developed primarily to treat type 2 diabetes. They work by activating GLP-1 receptors and increasing insulin levels within the body, thereby lowering glucose levels. They might help suppress appetite and help with weight reduction due to presence of GLP-1 receptors within the digestive system. Research shows that these drugs delay intestinal motility, slow the speed of food digestion, and suppress hunger and cravings.
However, GLP-1 receptors are also present in organ systems throughout the body, resembling the kidneys, heart, blood vessels and naturally the brain. This could also be why they prove useful in treating or stopping several other chronic diseases and in reducing systemic inflammation, although more studies are undoubtedly needed to know the mechanism of motion.
What has research shown to date about their advantages?
A considerable amount of research on GLP-1 and GIPs receptor agonists has shown that they will combat numerous chronic and age-related diseases, including Heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver, Kidney disease, Sleep apnea And polycystic ovary syndromeSome preliminary studies also show that semaglutide, a kind of GLP-1 therapy, the function of anti-cancer cells is restored referred to as NK cells in individuals with obesity, possibly lowering their risk of certain sorts of cancer.
These drugs also appear to have neuroprotective advantages. A small study published in April within the New England Journal of Medicine found that lixisenatide—one other GLP-1 receptor agonist and shut relative of Wegovy and Ozempic—slowed early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Some researchers are also testing whether these drugs can prevent Alzheimer’s.
In addition, compelling preliminary research suggests that these drugs could also be helpful for individuals with addiction. Animal testing, small human studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that these medications may reduce alcohol consumption by curbing alcohol cravings – one other lifestyle habit strongly related to shorter lifespan and health expectancy.
Most experts agree that these drugs would must be more extensively studied for each possible indication to be able to be safely prescribed outside of FDA-approved uses, currently diabetes, diabetes-related heart disease, and obesity.
Statistically speaking, it is predicted that the number of individuals taking GLP-1 receptor agonists and related drugs will proceed to rise, as By 2030, nearly half of all adults within the United States are prone to be classified as obese. This can be related to more chronic diseases. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4 in 10 adults within the United States currently suffer from two or more chronic diseases.
Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research on the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is studying the potential of repurposing numerous FDA-approved drugs to advertise longevity. He recently published an evaluation within the journal Medical Research Archives which reviewed existing research on numerous drugs that appear to affect the twelve signs of aging resembling mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular aging and telomere shortening. GLP-1 receptor agonists were shortlisted after SGLT2 inhibitors, metformin and the osteoporosis drug bisphosphonates.
Dr. Barzilai sees a future through which semaglutide and these other drugs are a part of a longer-term disease prevention plan, much like the best way people take over-the-counter supplements. He points out that it’s normal practice for healthy people to take vitamins and supplements that claim to slow aging, particularly antioxidants, regardless that research shows they do not significantly affect health and we do not know enough about their effects.
Risks of considering these drugs as miracle cures
However, Dr. Barzilai points out that GLP-1 receptor agonists usually are not a panacea. “I’m not asking doctors here to prescribe these drugs to anyone. I just want to make them aware that we are looking at the general therapeutic effects of these drugs. And we need to consider them because we can and should do so to prevent not just one disease, but two or three, and reduce mortality.”
Doctors like Dr. Kinga Kiszko, assistant professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine on the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, indicate that these drugs usually are not right for everybody, especially the elderly. “Often I see new diabetes drugs that do more harm than good, which is sometimes simply the result of polypharmacy,” she says. Dr. Kiszko would love to see more well-designed studies measuring the results of those therapies on older patients. “The older population is so heterogeneous that there are some people we definitely don’t want to lose weight.”
Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an assistant professor of drugs and endocrinologist on the Mayo Clinic, already prescribes semaglutide as a strategy to prevent the cascading health effect of weight gain that usually results in early death. Although doctors are advised to prescribe these drugs only to patients with a BMI of 27 or more, she sometimes prescribes them to patients whose health conditions are concerning. Perhaps they do not currently meet the standards for chubby or obesity but are gaining a median of 10 kilos annually, she says. Waiting one other 12 months to take the drug could prove detrimental to their health, increasing their risk for several chronic diseases and early death.
“I use my clinical judgment and sometimes don’t follow the guidelines but consider other aspects. There have been women who don’t meet the BMI criteria to take these medications, but I start them anyway because I want to prevent disease and not allow it to develop,” says Andrade, who can be a co-investigator with the Mayo Precision Medicine for Obesity program. “In my opinion, it’s always case by case. I consider the individual medical history, family history and the risks of taking these medications, then discuss all of these aspects with the patients and my patients make an informed decision at the end of the day.”
