New research indicates that GLP-1 agonists, a class of medications including Ozempic and Wegovy, may slow biological aging. The findings appeared in Nature Communications after the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial in humans examined semaglutide—the active ingredient in both drugs—on DNA markers tied to aging.
The trial involved 108 adults with HIV and lipohypertrophy, a condition marked by excess abdominal fat. Participants were divided into two groups: one received weekly injections of semaglutide, while the other took a placebo. Over 32 weeks, the team measured biological aging using epigenetic clocks, which track chemical changes in DNA that influence gene activity.
Slower aging in key organs
Results showed that those taking semaglutide experienced slower biological aging across multiple systems, including the blood, brain, heart, kidney, liver, and metabolism. The drug reduced the pace of biological aging by 9%, though scientists noted that further research is needed to determine if GLP-1 medications could be used as gerotherapeutics, or medications designed to slow aging.
Individuals with HIV often age faster, even when their condition is well-controlled with antiviral therapy. The study’s focus on this group leaves uncertainty about whether the benefits apply to people without underlying inflammatory conditions.
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Inflammation, weight loss, or another factor?
Experts suggest several possible explanations for how semaglutide might slow aging. The leading theory involves inflammation. “The most important effect is in reducing inflammation,” said Damian Folch, M.D., a family medicine physician affiliated with Lowell General Hospital. “We know that fat cells are inflammatory, so reducing fat in your body—especially visceral fat, or deep belly fat—has a big impact on overall inflammation.”
Mir Ali, M.D., medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center, agreed. “Being overweight creates a chronic inflammatory state in the body,” he said. Chronic inflammation is linked to a slew of serious diseases that can accelerate aging and reduce lifespan, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Theoretically, reducing that chronic inflammation should slow biological aging, he says.
Weight loss may not be the only factor. GLP-1 agonists also help stabilize blood sugar, which might further reduce inflammation. “It is also believed that it affects epigenetics—the genes that are up- or down-regulated based on environmental factors—in favor of less inflammation,” Folch explained. Still, “it’s hard to say if it’s the weight loss or the medication that’s causing the decrease in inflammation,” Dr. Ali said.
The medications might also encourage healthier habits. “People become more active [and] they seem to be happier,” Dr. Folch said. “Both exercise and mental health are important in the aging process.”
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Unanswered questions for the general population
Most studies on GLP-1 agonists have centered on individuals with type 2 diabetes, obesity, HIV, or other chronic conditions—groups already prone to higher inflammation. Whether the drugs offer similar benefits to healthier people is unknown.
The authors acknowledged the study’s limitations, calling for larger trials in more diverse groups. For now, the results add to growing evidence that GLP-1 agonists may have benefits beyond weight and blood sugar control, though their role in longevity is still uncertain.
If the drugs do slow aging, the impact could be substantial. Researchers must next determine whether these effects apply to people without pre-existing inflammatory conditions and whether the benefits justify the risks for those using them solely for anti-aging purposes.
The discussion around GLP-1 agonists and aging remains speculative. These medications are changing how scientists view metabolism, inflammation, and the processes driving aging signs.
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