Several years ago, a little-known drug called Ozempic – previously only used to treat diabetes – emerged as a promising latest drug for weight management.
Food and Drug Administration Ozempic approved in 2021 for weight loss treatment ushered in a brand new era for a category of eponymous drugs. Glucagon-like peptide 1 agonistor GLP-1.
Today, GLP-1 drugs, including Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, have grow to be household names and key tools within the fight against obesity: 1 in 8 American adults Say they've used a GLP-1 drug, and projections show that by 2030, 1 in 10 Americans likely will. Using these drugs.
Now, research from my lab and others shows that GLP-1 drugs can even help treat dozens of other diseases, including cognitive problems and addiction problems. However, my colleagues and I also discovered previously unknown risks.
I'm one. Physician-scientist And I direct a clinical epidemiology center focused on solving essentially the most pressing public health questions. My team works to handle critical knowledge gaps about COVID-19, prolonged COVID, influenza, vaccines, the effectiveness and risks of commonly used medications, and more.
On January 20, 2025, my team published a study of greater than 2.4 million people who Reviews the risks and benefits of GLP-1 medications. 175 potential health outcomes. We found that these drugs reduced the risks of 42 health outcomes, a few quarter of those we analyzed. These include neurological disorders akin to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, substance use and addiction disorders, clotting disorders and lots of other conditions.
Unfortunately, we also found that GLP-1 drugs include significant uncomfortable side effects and increase the chance of 19 health conditions we studied, akin to gastrointestinal problems, kidney stones and Acute pancreatitisthrough which the pancreas becomes inflamed and dysfunctional.
Cognitive advantages
One of crucial health advantages we found was that GLP-1 drugs reduced the chance of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia. These findings are consistent with other research, including evidence from preclinical studies, suggesting that these drugs can reduce inflammation within the brain and increase the brain's ability to form and strengthen connections between its cells, which may improve brain health. How do they impart with one another? These effects help reduce cognitive decline.
Two other essential studies have shown this. Patients treated with GLP-1 drugs For diabetes The risk of dementia was low..
All these studies point to the potential therapeutic use of GLP-1 drugs within the treatment of cognitive decline. Ongoing randomized trials – the gold standard for evaluating latest drug uses – are the consequences of GLP-1 drugs in early Alzheimer's disease, with results expected later in 2025.
Stop addiction and suicidal ideation
GLP-1 drugs have also demonstrated the flexibility to cut back the risks of several substance use disorders akin to addiction. The wine, Tobaccocannabis, opioids and stimulants. This could also be attributable to the flexibility of those drugs to modulate reward pathways, impulse control and inflammatory processes within the brain.
The effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs in inhibiting addictive behavior may explain their remarkable success in treating obesity, a chronic disease state that many have advocated. There really is an eating disorder..
Our study demonstrated a lower risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm in people using GLP-1 drugs. This discovery is especially essential. Early reports of suicidal thoughts and self-injury In people using GLP-1 drugs. In response to those reports, the European Medicines Agency reviewed all available data and concluded that No evidence of increased risk of suicide. In people using GLP-1 drugs.
Now not less than two studies, including our own, show that GLP-1 drugs actually are. Reduce the risk of suicide.
Other advantages
In addition to the well-documented effects of GLP-1 drugs in reducing the risks of Negative cardiovascular And Renal findingsour study shows a major effect in reducing the chance of blood clotting in addition to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
A surprising finding in our study is the low risk of infectious diseases akin to pneumonia and sepsis. Our data complement one other recent study that reached similar conclusions showing that GLP-1 drugs reduced risk. Cardiovascular death and death due to infectious causesmainly COVID-19.
This is very essential because COVID-19 is taken into account a Major cardiovascular risk factor. Whether GLP-1 drugs fully offset the increased cardiovascular risk related to COVID-19 must be thoroughly evaluated.
GLP-1 drugs might also be useful. Treatment of fatty liver disease and conditions starting from asthma Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaselack of sleep, Osteoarthritisdepression and eye diseases.
Risks and challenges
Despite their broad therapeutic potential, GLP-1 drugs will not be without risks.
Gastrointestinal problems, akin to nausea, vomiting, constipation and Gastroesophageal reflux disease are amongst essentially the most common opposed effects related to GLP-1 drugs.
Our study also identified other risks, including low blood pressure, sleep problems, headaches, kidney stone formation, and Gallbladder disease and diseases associated with the bile ducts. We also saw increased risks of drug-induced kidney and pancreatitis — each serious conditions that may result in long-term health problems. These findings underscore the importance of careful monitoring in those taking GLP-1 drugs.
GLP-1 is a significant challenge in drug use. High rate at which patients discontinue their use.often driven by their excessive cost or the emergence of opposed effects. Stopping can result in rapid weight gain.
This is an issue, because obesity is a chronic disease. GLP-1 drugs provide effective treatment but don't address the underlying causes of obesity and metabolic dysfunction. As a result, GLP-1 drugs have to be used long-term to keep up their effectiveness and forestall weight gain.
In addition, many questions remain in regards to the long-term effectiveness and risks of those drugs, in addition to whether there are differences between GLP-1 formulations. Addressing these questions is significant for guiding clinical practice.
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