Semaglutide Extends Lifespan in Mice by 12%, Raising Human Ageing Questions
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight-loss medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy, has been linked to longer lifespan and improved physical and cognitive performance in elderly female mice, according to a new study published in Nature.
Researchers found that mice treated with semaglutide lived significantly longer than those in the control group, with their median lifespan increasing by about 12 per cent — equivalent to nearly 100 additional days.
The findings have sparked interest among ageing researchers because they suggest that a medicine developed to treat metabolic conditions could potentially influence biological processes associated with ageing.
The treated mice did not only live longer.
Researchers also recorded better performance in measures of muscle function, cognitive performance and spatial memory, suggesting that semaglutide’s effects may extend beyond weight reduction and blood sugar regulation.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the action of a naturally occurring hormone involved in appetite, blood sugar control and metabolism.
The drugs have become increasingly important in the treatment of obesity and diabetes, but the latest findings raise questions about whether their biological effects could extend into the ageing process.
Researchers are particularly interested in whether semaglutide may influence inflammation and other biological pathways linked to age-related decline.
Chronic inflammation is associated with several conditions that become more common with advancing age. Changes in these processes could potentially help explain why the treated mice showed improvements in both physical and cognitive measures.
However, the study does not establish that semaglutide extends human lifespan.
It also does not show that people taking Ozempic or Wegovy will live longer or age more slowly.
The findings come from an animal study, meaning further research is needed to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
