Semaglutide extended the life of mice and reduced signs of aging

Semaglutide, widely used to treat diabetes and obesity, extended the life of healthy elderly mice and attenuated a number of age-related changes in the body. This was reported by scientists whose work was published in the journal Nature.

The researchers administered semaglutide to 20-month-old female mice. After three months, the animals had improved muscle function and cognitive function, and analysis of gene activity showed a weakening of some characteristic signs of aging, including chronic inflammation and a decrease in the ability of tissue to repair.

In a separate experiment, mice received the drug for the rest of their lives. The median life expectancy of animals treated with semaglutide was almost 100 days longer than in the control group. The scientists also compared its effects to a 24 percent calorie restriction and found that the drug replicated many of the effects of such a diet. The drug showed additional benefits in some measures, including spatial memory and blood sugar control.

The authors suggest that semaglutide may affect some mechanisms of aging beyond reducing food intake. However, the experiments were carried out on elderly female mice, so the results cannot be directly transferred to humans.