A GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, best known for treating diabetes and obesity, extended lifespan and improved markers of healthy aging when given late in life to mice, according to a new NIH-funded study.

The research, led by Danica Chen at the University of California, Berkeley, and published in Nature, found that treating aged mice with semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, improved metabolic health, muscle strength, and cognitive function, and extended their lifespan compared to untreated aged mice.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are widely prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite. This study suggests the drugs may also have broader effects on the biology of aging itself, rather than acting only through weight loss.

The researchers found that semaglutide treatment activated cellular pathways associated with improved mitochondrial function and reduced inflammation in aged tissues, two hallmarks of aging that typically decline with age. Treated mice also showed improvements in physical endurance and memory compared to untreated counterparts.

“These findings suggest that the benefits of GLP-1 drugs may extend well beyond glucose control and weight management,” the researchers noted, pointing to potential applications in promoting healthy aging more broadly.

In an accompanying commentary, Rafael de Cabo of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) noted that the findings add to growing evidence that metabolic interventions developed for other conditions may hold promise for extending healthspan, the period of life spent in good health, and warrant further investigation in aging-focused clinical research.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health.

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Journal: Nature
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10940-7
Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Source: EurekAlert. Featured image credit: Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com