Semaglutide – the compound behind weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Wegovy – extended lifespan and slowed core ageing processes in elderly mice. A team led by Danica Chen at the University of California, Berkeley, together with the US National Institute on Aging (NIA), reported the findings on 2 September 2026 in the journal Nature.
What the study found
The researchers treated 20-month-old female mice – roughly equivalent to advanced adulthood in humans – with semaglutide for three months. Even after that short window the animals were livelier and more curious than their peers, with better blood-sugar control and greater endurance. A separate group treated until the end of life reached a median lifespan nearly 100 days longer than untreated controls.
More than weight loss
Gene-expression analysis showed that several classic hallmarks of ageing were attenuated. In some areas the effect even exceeded that of calorie restriction with 24 percent less food. Improvements included:
- lower inflammation markers in tissue
- better regenerative capacity of stem cells in bone marrow and brain
- improved muscle and memory function
No proof for humans yet
The data come solely from an animal model; whether the life-extending effect carries over to people must still be confirmed in clinical trials. NIA researcher Rafael de Cabo notes that many chronic diseases are deeply rooted in the ageing process – if a GLP-1 drug genuinely slows it, a broad range of clinical benefits would be expected.
Sources: Nature (Chen et al., 2026) · NIH/NIA · C&EN
