A medication commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, semaglutide—marketed as Ozempic—may also slow the ageing process, according to recent research. Professor Harlan Krumholz of Yale School of Medicine highlighted the drug’s broad potential, saying, “It has far-reaching benefits beyond what we initially imagined,” after the publication of several new studies.
These studies suggest that semaglutide could be effective in treating various conditions associated with ageing, including heart failure, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. “It wouldn’t surprise me that improving people’s health this way actually slows down the ageing process,” Prof. Krumholz remarked at the European Society of Cardiology Conference 2024, where the findings were presented. The new data has been published in multiple medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), which Prof. Krumholz edits.
“These groundbreaking medications are poised to revolutionize cardiovascular care and could dramatically enhance cardiovascular health,” he stated. The studies, part of the Select trial, involved over 17,600 participants aged 45 and older, who were either given 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo for more than three years. Participants were obese or overweight and had cardiovascular disease but did not have diabetes.
Results showed that those taking semaglutide had a lower overall death rate, including from cardiovascular causes and COVID-19. While the drug did not reduce the likelihood of contracting COVID-19, it did lower the mortality rate, with 2.6% of semaglutide users dying compared to 3.1% in the placebo group. Additionally, while women experienced fewer major cardiovascular events, the drug consistently reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes regardless of sex. It also improved heart failure symptoms and reduced inflammation levels, independent of weight loss.
Dr. Benjamin Scirica, lead author of one of the studies and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Harvard Medical School, noted that the findings “reinforce that overweight and obesity increase the risk of death from many causes.” However, he added that these risks “can be modified with potent incretin-based therapies like semaglutide.”
Semaglutide, available by prescription through the NHS, is marketed under the brand names Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes. It is administered as an injection and mimics the GLP-1 hormone, helping users feel fuller and less hungry. Experts caution that semaglutide is not a quick fix or a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise and should be used only under medical supervision. Common side effects include nausea, upset stomach, bloating, and gas.
