‘Fountain of Youth’: Can Ozempic, the weight-loss drug, help slow ageing?

Ozempic, a drug originally developed to manage Type 2 diabetes, has garnered widespread attention for its impressive weight loss benefits. However recent research suggests that this so-called “miracle” drug may offer benefits far beyond what was previously imagined.

Several studies have revealed that Semaglutide, marketed under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, not only treats illnesses linked to heart failure, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer but also holds the potential to slow the ageing process.

“It wouldn’t surprise me that improving people’s health this way actually slows down the ageing process,” said Prof Harlan Krumholz from the Yale School of Medicine, as quoted by the BBC. He shared this insight at the European Society of Cardiology Conference 2024 in London, where the studies were presented.

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So, how might Ozempic help slow down ageing?  Let’s delve deeper into this intriguing finding.

What does the study say?

A series of groundbreaking trials led by researchers from Yale and Harvard have revealed that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, may have profound health benefits beyond its original use.

The studies suggest that semaglutide could reverse kidney disease, prevent heart failure, lower previously untreatable high blood pressure, and even reduce the risk of dying from COVID-19 by a third.

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Published in multiple medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), these studies involved a select trial of 17,604 participants aged 45 or older.

All were either overweight or obese and had established cardiovascular disease but no diabetes. The participants received either 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo and were monitored over a period of more than three years.

During the study, 833 participants died, with 5 per cent of these deaths related to cardiovascular causes and 42 per cent from other causes. Infection was the most common cause of non-cardiovascular death, but it occurred less frequently in the semaglutide (2.6 per cent) group compared to the placebo group (3.1 per cent).

Interestingly, the study found that while women experienced fewer major adverse cardiovascular events, semaglutide “consistently reduced the risk” of such outcomes across both sexes.

Dr Benjamin Scirica, lead author of one of the studies and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Harvard Medical School told the PA news agency, “The robust reduction in non-cardiovascular death, and particularly infections deaths, was surprising and perhaps only detectable because of the Covid-19-related surge in non-cardiovascular deaths.“

“These findings reinforce that overweight and obesity increases the risk of death due to many etiologies, which can be modified with potent incretin-based therapies like semaglutide.”

Also read: The India link in blockbuster weight loss drug Ozempic's success

How does it slow down ageing?

Professor Krumholz, who has been widely quoted, raised an intriguing question: “Is it a fountain of youth?” He elaborated, “I would say if you’re improving someone’s cardiometabolic health substantially, then you are putting them in a position to live longer and better."

Semaglutide has been found to improve heart failure symptoms and significantly reduce inflammation in the body, irrespective of weight loss. This adds to the growing evidence that the drug could be far more than just a weight-loss treatment.

Professor John Deanfield, a cardiologist at University College London, told The Times, “The idea is that if you target inflammatory biology, you can alter the evolution and the consequences of multiple diseases…you might be able to alter the outcome for a whole set of diseases of ageing we’d all like to avoid."

He added, “They stop being weight-loss drugs, with all of the controversy about lifestyle drugs, and they become drugs that will target diseases. It’s incredibly exciting."

Originally developed for managing diabetes, semaglutide gained massive popularity as a weight-loss treatment, becoming a viral sensation on social media. The drug mimics the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide one), which helps manage hunger and slows digestion.

Experts, including those who presented at the congress in London, argue that semaglutide should be more widely considered as a “multi-purpose drug” that “protects against a broad spectrum of health threats."

However, it’s important to note that the drug, which costs about Rs 78,000, doesn’t work for everyone and has its risks. It can cause severe side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and a significant increase in the risk of pancreatitis, a potentially deadly condition. There’s also a four-fold increase in the risk of stomach paralysis. Therefore, medical consultation is crucial before starting any treatment.

With input from agencies