GLP-1 Agonists Could Delay Aging? A Scientist Weighs In
Recent articles from outlets such as the BBC and CNN reported that GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, a drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, may help lower risk and death rates from several diseases including COVID-19 and heart failure. Matt and Nick discuss mechanisms by which GLP-1 agonists might slow the biological aging process, the connection between health and biological age, and the potential for future, more effective versions of these drugs. They also touch on the importance of diet quality, protein intake, resistance training, and regular bloodwork and hormone profiling to understand the effects of GLP-1 agonists on the body and to mitigate potential side effects such as muscle and bone loss.
GLP-1 agonists are medications that mimic the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is naturally produced in the gut, to manage type 2 diabetes. They regulate blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin release when blood sugar levels are high, slowing down digestion, and reducing the liver’s production of glucose. In recent years, GLP-1 agonists have gained attention for their role in weight management. By affecting appetite control centers in the brain, they help people feel fuller for longer, leading to reduced food intake and weight loss.
Check out the links below for further information and/or reading about some of the things we discussed in this podcast episode. Note that we do not necessarily endorse or agree with the content of these readings, but present them as supplementary material that may deepen your understanding of the topic after you listen to our podcast. This list is in no way exhaustive, but it’s a good start!
Ozempic could delay ageing, researchers suggest
This is one of the mainstream media articles that reported potential age-delaying benefits of taking the GLP-1 agonist Ozempic. The article describes new data published in medical journals suggesting that obese or overweight individuals who took Ozempic had lower all-cause mortality, including from diseases such as COVID-19.
Findings from the Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Overweight or Obesity (SELECT) trial suggest that patients who received semaglutide, the active ingredient in medications such as Ozempic, experienced lower all-cause mortality compared to patients receiving a placebo. Deaths were caused by both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes such as infections. COVID-19 rates didn't decrease in patients receiving semaglutide, but patients who developed COVID-19 and took semaglutide suffered from lower rates of serious adverse events and death.
Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes
This paper reports SELECT trial findings suggesting that patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease receiving semaglutide experienced reduced death rates from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke compared to patients receiving a placebo. Whether or not semaglutide might have the same effects on patients without preexisting atherosclerotic disease remains to be seen.
This review describes historic approaches to tackling obesity, including lifestyle modifications such as eating healthily and increasing physical activity, bariatric surgery, and anti-obesity medications that were withdrawn from the market. It summarizes trial data to date on the use of GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic to treat obesity. It also discusses barriers to treating obesity with GLP-1 agonists, including clinician perceptions of obesity as a lifestyle choice rather than a treatable disease and a lack of insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications.
In this article, researchers outline the design of the SELECT trial methods, rationale, and statistical considerations. The randomized, double-blind trial compares the effects of once weekly semaglutide and a placebo on male or female patients aged 45 years and older with preexisting cardiovascular disease and a ≥27 kg/m2 BMI. The trial's primary endpoint is the time from the start of the trial to the first incidence of a composite endpoint that includes cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke.
