'Wonder drug' for weight-loss slows aging process, extends lifespan: Study
Weight-loss medications may hold the key to not only combating obesity but also slowing down the aging process, according to recent research. These findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Conference in London. The study focused on semaglutide, a drug known commercially as Wegovy and Ozempic. It has been shown to reduce the risk of death in overweight people with cardiovascular disease.
Semaglutide's benefits extend beyond cardiovascular health
New research suggests that the benefits of semaglutide extend beyond its initial purpose. The drug has been found to lower mortality rates from all causes, not just those related to cardiovascular health. Professor Harlan Krumholz from Yale School of Medicine stated, "Semaglutide has far-reaching benefits beyond what we initially imagined." He added that these are health promoters and it wouldn't surprise him if improving people's health in this way actually slows down the aging process.
Select trial: A comprehensive study on semaglutide
The findings are based on the Select trial conducted in the US, which involved 17,604 participants aged 45 or older. All participants were overweight or obese and had established cardiovascular disease but not diabetes. They were administered either semaglutide or a placebo and monitored for over three years. The study found that those who took semaglutide were less likely to die of infections than those in the placebo group while it also consistently reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Semaglutide's surprising impact on non-cardiovascular deaths
During the trial, 833 participants died, with 58% of deaths due to cardiovascular causes and 42% from other causes. Infections were the most common cause of death in this latter group. Benjamin Scirica, a Harvard professor, expressed surprise at "the robust reduction in non-cardiovascular death, and particularly infections deaths." He emphasized that these findings reinforce that overweight and obesity increase the risk of death due to many etiologies which can be modified with therapies like semaglutide.
