Ozempic Study Finds Semaglutide Extended Lifespan of Older Mice by 12 Percent
A study published in September 2026 by researchers at UC Berkeley found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, extended the median lifespan of older female mice by approximately 12 percent. The drug also improved cognitive function, muscle performance, and blood sugar control. Researchers caution the findings are limited to mice and do not confirm the same effects in humans.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, published a study in September 2026 finding that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, extended the median lifespan of older female mice by approximately 12 percent.
The study, published in the journal Nature, was led by Danica Chen. Researchers administered semaglutide to 20-month-old female mice, an age roughly equivalent to a 60-year-old human. Treatment continued for the remainder of the animals' lives.
Treated mice lived approximately 100 days longer than the control group. Beyond lifespan extension, the drug improved cognitive function, muscle strength, coordination, and blood sugar control. Spatial memory tests showed treated mice performed better than untreated counterparts.
At the molecular level, semaglutide reduced several markers of aging, including inflammation, cellular senescence, and DNA damage. It also improved mitochondrial function and the regenerative capacity of stem cells.
A key finding involved comparing semaglutide to a 24 percent calorie-restricted diet. Both interventions provided similar benefits, but semaglutide outperformed calorie restriction in areas including exploratory drive, spatial memory, and glucose tolerance. Calorie-restricted mice experienced a metabolic slowdown, while semaglutide-treated mice maintained a stable metabolic rate.
Researchers identified changes in the NAD+/sirtuin axis and the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway as potential mechanisms for the anti-aging effects.
The authors and other experts emphasized that the findings are limited to mice. They do not confirm that semaglutide will extend human lifespan. Further clinical research is needed to determine whether these effects apply to people, particularly healthy older adults.
The study adds to growing scientific interest in GLP-1 receptor agonists as potential tools for addressing age-related conditions beyond diabetes and obesity.
