By Dr. Asnat Raziel, bariatric surgeon specializing in obesity treatment, metabolic health and healthy longevity; Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Obesity Treatment, Assia Medical, Assuta Ramat HaChayal, Tel Aviv
Semaglutide and aging: what the new study found
Until recently, linking semaglutide and aging sounded like science fiction. However, a new study published in Nature in September 2026 changes the picture. Researchers gave semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, to older female mice. As a result, the treatment extended their lives and slowed many signs of aging.
The most surprising part? Some of the effects did not come only from eating less or losing weight. Instead, the drug probably has a pathway of its own. Still, this is an early hint, not proof in humans.
What are GLP-1 drugs?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a natural hormone that the gut releases after a meal. It boosts insulin secretion, slows stomach emptying and reduces hunger. Semaglutide mimics its action. Because it acts on the hunger and satiety centers in the brain, the drug has become a key tool for treating obesity and diabetes.
In recent years, evidence has been building for broad effects beyond weight. For example, the SELECT trial showed a 20% reduction in major cardiac events in people with heart disease and obesity (I covered it in my article on semaglutide and heart protection). In addition, these drugs reduce inflammation and improve metabolic markers. I also wrote about this direction in my article on GLP-1 drugs against aging. Overall, the new study adds an important layer to the field of longevity medicine.
How the semaglutide and aging study was designed
A team from the University of California, Berkeley, led by researcher Danica Chen, treated 20-month-old female mice. That age corresponds to older adulthood in humans. The mice received semaglutide for three months, and some of them continued treatment for the rest of their lives.
To find out whether the benefit came only from eating less, the researchers added a comparison group. This group ate a diet with 24% calorie restriction, matching the drop in food intake that the drug caused. That way, the team could separate the effect of food from the direct effect of the drug.
What the researchers found
Median lifespan in the treated mice rose from 742 days to 834 days. That is an extra 92 days, or an increase of about 12%. According to a news release from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), this amounts to almost 100 additional days.
Moreover, the treated mice showed improvements in muscle function, coordination and spatial memory. Their blood sugar control improved as well. On top of that, the researchers found less inflammation and better function of the mitochondria, the “power plants” of the cell. In other words, life became both longer and better. This is an improvement in healthspan: the number of years we live in good health and good function.
Why the comparison with calorie restriction matters
Calorie restriction is one of the oldest interventions in aging research. In many animals, it slows aging, extends life and reduces the diseases of old age. However, it is very hard to stick with for years. That is why researchers are looking for drugs that mimic its effects without the hunger and effort.
According to the paper’s abstract, semaglutide affected nutrient sensors in cells and genes that regulate aging. These are the same mechanisms that change during calorie restriction. In addition, the treatment reduced well-known hallmarks of aging, such as inflammation and impaired cell function. Based on these findings, the researchers suggest viewing semaglutide as a “calorie restriction mimetic.” Even so, some of its effects went beyond what restriction itself achieved.
What’s new: beyond weight loss
The most intriguing finding involved metabolism. As expected, calorie restriction lowered the mice’s metabolic rate. By contrast, the mice on semaglutide kept a stable metabolic rate. They also outperformed the calorie restriction group in memory and in curiosity to explore.
So the drug probably has an independent pathway that does not depend only on the amount of food. Precision matters here, though. Semaglutide does not “speed up your metabolism.” Rather, it seems to help the body keep its systems working while weight comes down.
Semaglutide and aging in humans: what we know
Researchers ran this study in mice, and in females only. Therefore, we cannot conclude that an injection will extend human life. The researchers themselves call for long-term studies in older populations.
Furthermore, not every expectation from these drugs holds up in humans. In November 2025, results came out from the EVOKE and EVOKE+ trials. These trials included 3,808 people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer‘s disease. Oral semaglutide did not slow disease progression compared with placebo. For this reason, every promise needs testing in controlled trials.
On the other hand, there are also encouraging data in humans, such as a study that examined semaglutide’s effect on biological clocks. If you want to dig deeper into whether we can “rejuvenate” the body, you are welcome to read my article on geroscience and the longevity clinic.
A practical point: protecting your muscle
Weight loss, even with medication, can reduce muscle mass. Muscle matters especially for health in older age. So I recommend combining strength training with a protein-rich diet throughout treatment. I explain this in more detail in my guide to preserving muscle mass during weight loss.
The bottom line on semaglutide and aging
The new study frames GLP-1 drugs as more than a weight loss tool. It also raises them as possible candidates in the field of healthy longevity. We still have a long way to go before such use in humans, but the direction is fascinating. In the meantime, the guiding principle stays the same: personalized treatment, smart nutrition and physical activity.
Questions and answers
Should I take Ozempic to live longer?
No. This study was done in mice. GLP-1 drugs are meant for clear medical indications, such as obesity and diabetes, and under medical supervision. Currently, there is no recommendation to take them for longevity. Any decision should be made together with your doctor.
Why did the researchers test only females?
At this stage, the researchers focused on female mice. That is also a limitation of the study. We do not yet know whether the effect is the same in males, so follow-up research is needed.
The information in this article is general and is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
References
Late-life semaglutide treatment slows ageing and extends lifespan in female mice
GLP-1 treatment late in life extends lifespan in animal model
GLP-1 drug slows aging in mice
Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes
Results of EVOKE and EVOKE+ trials show no effect of oral semaglutide on AD progression
