Ozempic Drug Extends Lifespan of Older Mice by 12 Percent in New Nature Study
A study published in Nature found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, extended the median lifespan of older female mice by nearly 100 days, or about 12 percent. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found the drug improved cognitive function, muscle performance, and reduced inflammation. Scientists caution that the findings apply only to mice and that no clinical evidence supports using semaglutide to extend human lifespan.
A study published in the journal Nature found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, extended the median lifespan of older female mice by nearly 100 days, or roughly 12 percent.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, led by Dr. Danica Chen, administered semaglutide to 20-month-old female mice, an age that corresponds to late middle age in human terms. Compared to untreated mice, the treated animals lived significantly longer and showed improvements in several markers of biological aging.
The treated mice performed better on spatial memory tests, showed stronger muscle function, had lower levels of systemic inflammation, and demonstrated better tissue regeneration. These improvements went beyond what the researchers expected from the drug's known effects on appetite and blood sugar.
To test whether the results were simply due to the mice eating less, the team compared semaglutide-treated mice against a group on a 24 percent calorie-restricted diet. The semaglutide group outperformed the calorie-restricted group on memory tests and exploratory behavior, and unlike calorie-restricted mice, they maintained their metabolic rates.
Researchers say this suggests semaglutide activates longevity pathways that are separate from those triggered by eating less.
Scientists and outside experts caution that the study was conducted only on female mice. Rodent longevity findings frequently do not translate to humans, and there is no clinical evidence that semaglutide extends human lifespan or slows human aging. Further studies in male mice and eventually in humans would be needed before any conclusions can be drawn about the drug's potential as an anti-aging treatment.
