A study published in Nature on 2 September has found that semaglutide, the blockbuster GLP-1 receptor agonist sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, can slow ageing and extend lifespan in mice — and the benefits go beyond simply eating less.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, treated 20-month-old healthy female mice — roughly equivalent to 60-year-old humans — with semaglutide. The treated mice lived a median of 834 days, 12% longer than the control group's 742 days. They also performed better on tests of coordination, muscle function, sugar metabolism, and spatial memory.
Critically, the team included an extra group of untreated mice whose calorie intake was matched to the semaglutide group's reduced intake. While both groups showed similar longevity gains, the semaglutide-treated mice outperformed the diet-only group on several measures — including a maze memory test. That result suggests semaglutide provides direct anti-ageing benefits beyond calorie reduction, though the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that GLP-1 drugs, originally developed for obesity and type 2 diabetes, may have broader therapeutic potential. Earlier studies had hinted at anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and clinical trials are now exploring longevity applications in humans. "This is a very rigorous animal study that showed a positive signal," said Michael Corley, an ageing researcher at UC San Diego, though he cautioned that proving longevity benefits in humans could take years.
